Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of City Development seeking approval for the next phase in the development of the Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House.

(Please note that the Appendix B to this report is recommended to be designated as exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3)).

Further to Minute No. 44, 16^th July 2014, the Director of City Development submitted a report which sought approval for the next phase in the development of the Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House (LGTOH).

In receiving the report, the Board emphasised the vital contribution that all three venues made to the city’s cultural offer. As such, it was highlighted that the key objective of the submitted report was to ensure that the venues remained sustainable and were allowed to prosper in the future.

The Board paid tribute to the work which had been undertaken by the staff of the venues, Trustees of the Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House, Scrutiny Board (Sustainable Economy and Culture), Council officers and the consultants, who had undertaken a piece of work as part of the review, all of whom had made valued contributions towards the progress which had been achieved to date.

Following consideration of Appendix B to the submitted report, designated as exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3), which was considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting, it was

RESOLVED –

(a)  That it be recommended to the LGTOH Board that it restructures to become a fully independent charitable trust;

(b)  That it be noted, that once established, the fully independent charitable trust may decide to contract a commercial operator to run Leeds Grand Theatre and/or City Varieties, (subject to agreement to any requirements imposed upon it by Arts Council England, The National Heritage Memorial Fund or the Charity Commission) or may decide to retain this function in-house;

(c)  That the reduction of Member representation on the new board to a maximum of 3 be approved, which would be a condition of any future grants to the new trust, and/or a condition of any other financial contribution to the operation of LGTOH that the Council may make;

(d)  That support be given to the principle that the Board of LGTOH moves immediately to appoint an interim full-time Chief Executive to lead the process of change and development that will flow from the changes to governance, including the responsibility for managing the recruitment of an independent chair, to continue the progress made in turning around the current deficit-generating business model and developing a capital refurbishment plan with other stakeholders as per paragraph 3.7.3 of the submitted report;

(e)  That approval be given for any rental income, net of costs, from The Swan public house from 1 April 2015 is formally hypothecated from City Development to the benefit of City Varieties in recognition that the existence of The Swan significantly limits City Varieties capacity to raise income from secondary spend;

(f)  That it be agreed that any decision to separate governance arrangements for the Hyde Park Picture House be held in abeyance for further consideration by the independent trust in consultation with the Council, the local community and ‘friends’ groups;

(g)  That the Board convey its thanks to the staff, Trustees of LGTOH and the council officers involved for their work in improving the financial performance of the company, and that the Director of City Development and the Deputy Chief Executive be authorised to take the lead on behalf of the Council in the implementation of these changes under their respective schemes of delegation;

(h)  That the Director of City Development, on behalf of the Council, be authorised to enter into discussions and agree necessary documentation with Arts Council England and the National Heritage Memorial Fund with regard to necessary changes to the existing arrangements which would enable LGTOH to become a fully independent charitable trust.