Decision details

To agree the design freeze of the West Yorkshire Playhouse Scheme and to approve the injection of funds and authority to spend to enable the scheme to progress, including associated public realm and land proposals.

Further to Minute No. 28, 15^th July 2015, the Director of City Development submitted a report which sought approval to submit a Stage 2 application to Arts Council England for the purposes of grant support towards the cost of the proposed West Yorkshire Playhouse refurbishment works, whilst also seeking the relevant authority for an injection into the Capital Programme and associated authority to spend. In addition, the report also outlined proposals for the Council, supported by stakeholders, to progress associated public realm improvements.

Members noted the wider public realm works which were proposed to accompany the Playhouse refurbishment scheme, highlighted the importance for the Playhouse building to have good quality architectural design, whilst also considered the financial aspects of the proposals.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the submission of a Stage 2 application to Arts Council England for a grant of £6.330m towards the cost of refurbishing and reconfiguring the West Yorkshire Playhouse, be authorised;

(b)  That an injection of £13.040m into the Capital Programme (Capital Scheme No. 32019) be authorised, subject to the City Council’s Stage 2 grant application to Arts Council England for £6.3m being successful;

(c)  That ‘Authority to Spend’ of £13.040m from Capital Scheme No. 32019 for the proposed refurbishment and reconfiguration works to the West Yorkshire Playhouse be approved, subject to the City Council’s Stage 2 grant application to Arts Council England and the tender for the proposed works being within the project’s cost plan allowance;

(d)  That the award of the contract for the proposed refurbishment and reconfiguration works at the West Yorkshire Playhouse be authorised, subject to the tender for the proposed works being within the project’s cost plan allowance;

(e)  That the inclusion of the proposed public realm improvement works to Gateway Court in the contract for the proposed works to the West Yorkshire Playhouse be approved in principle, and that it be noted that a further report detailing the proposed public realm improvement works will be presented to Executive Board for approval in due course;

(f)  That approval be given to bringing forward for disposal for residential use the site on Quarry Hill previously held for use as a coach layover facility, and approval also be given to use the subsequent capital receipt in order to contribute towards the cost of the proposed public realm improvement works at Gateway Court;

(g)  That subject to consultation with the Executive Member for Regeneration, Transport and Planning, the Director of City Development be authorised to negotiate and approve the final terms of all legal agreements associated with the delivery of the project, in accordance with the Council’s officer delegation scheme;

(h)  That the actions required to implement the above resolutions, together with the proposed timescales to progress the project (as detailed in paragraph 3.6 of the submitted report) be noted, and that it also be noted that the Chief Officer Culture and Sport will be responsible for the implementation of such matters.

By meeting and presentations.

Executive Member for Economy and Culture.

Stakeholder groups internal and external to the playhouse i.e. Leeds Civic Trust, City Plans Panel, the Access and User-Ability Group, the WYP Access Group, Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project, adjacent neighbours.