Agenda item

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet approves the full amount requested of £2,988,000 (52% of total project cost), comprised of:

 • Up to £2,988,000 of capital funding towards a project to improve the accessibility of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and enable wider community use. To be paid in staged payments, on evidence of spend. The final value of funding will be contingent on Surrey County Council’s (SCC) review of a tender before entering into a funding agreement.

• 5% of which will be retained as final payment until final evidence of income, expenditure and building control sign-off is provided.

Reasons for Decisions:

·         This application has been the subject of a rigorous assessment process and officers consider the project meets the aims and published criteria of the Fund and to satisfy the requirements to award funding.

·         The proposed project will enable the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre (YA), registered charity, to become a thriving, multi-purpose community and cultural hub for the whole of Surrey. The facilities it provides are unique for the County, but the current building is out-dated, inaccessible and not capable of meeting current and future demand.

·         The project will ensure that the entire theatre and existing community rooms will become accessible for a variety of new groups and build on the community initiatives and outreach programmes already delivered by the Theatre. Enhanced accessibility will ensure the YA is able to increase its’ capacity by 30% and support arts and culture development for charities, schools and diverse community groups across Guildford and Surrey. The development of the YA will ensure the venue, which was built by monies raise by the community themselves, continues to serve a diverse and large number of residents into the future.

(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee)

The report was introduced by the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Community Safety who explained that the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre was Surrey’s only producing house. The grade II listed three storey building welcomed 128,000 visitors a year, including audiences at performances and community groups. Approving the funding for the project would ensure entire theatre and existing community rooms would become accessible for a variety of new groups and build on the community initiatives and outreach programmes already delivered by the Theatre. The building was of concrete construction, was outdated and needs repair, refurbishment and re-design. A key element of the project is to install a new accessible lift in the centre of the building to service all floors. There were currently no accessible toilets within the theatre building so as part of the project the ground floor foyer will be redesigned to incorporate accessible toilets. The project was supported by Guildford Borough Council and the local member, Fiona Davidson. The council would only be funding 52% of the project costs. The rest would be raised via fundraising. The Cabinet Member for Adults and Health welcomed the report and commented that the theatre had an amazing outreach programme which brough many wellbeing benefits to residents. Members supported the project and recognised the wider community benefits of the theatre.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet approves the full amount requested of £2,988,000 (52% of total project cost), comprised of:

 • Up to £2,988,000 of capital funding towards a project to improve the accessibility of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and enable wider community use. To be paid in staged payments, on evidence of spend. The final value of funding will be contingent on Surrey County Council’s (SCC) review of a tender before entering into a funding agreement.

• 5% of which will be retained as final payment until final evidence of income, expenditure and building control sign-off is provided.

Reasons for Decisions:

·         This application has been the subject of a rigorous assessment process and officers consider the project meets the aims and published criteria of the Fund and to satisfy the requirements to award funding.

·         The proposed project will enable the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre (YA), registered charity, to become a thriving, multi-purpose community and cultural hub for the whole of Surrey. The facilities it provides are unique for the County, but the current building is out-dated, inaccessible and not capable of meeting current and future demand.

·         The project will ensure that the entire theatre and existing community rooms will become accessible for a variety of new groups and build on the community initiatives and outreach programmes already delivered by the Theatre. Enhanced accessibility will ensure the YA is able to increase its’ capacity by 30% and support arts and culture development for charities, schools and diverse community groups across Guildford and Surrey. The development of the YA will ensure the venue, which was built by monies raise by the community themselves, continues to serve a diverse and large number of residents into the future.

(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee)