Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of City Development which provides a summary of the progress made to date on the proposed works to the Playhouse and the public realm redevelopment and enhancement works at Gateway Court and Playhouse Square. The report also seeks approval to inject additional funding into existing Capital Scheme Nos. 32019 and 32804 and to authorise expenditure on the proposed works to the Playhouse and public realm works.

Further to Minute No. 57, 20^th September 2017, the Director of City Development submitted a report which provided a summary of the progress made to date on the proposed works to the Playhouse and the public realm redevelopment and enhancement works at Gateway Court and Playhouse Square. The submitted report also sought approval to inject additional funding into existing Capital Scheme Nos. 32019 and 32804 and to authorise expenditure on the proposed works to the Playhouse and public realm works.

Members were supportive of the proposals, and highlighted the important role of the Playhouse in the cultural offer of Leeds. In discussing the redevelopment and the future role of the Playhouse, emphasis was placed upon the need to ensure that it was an inclusive and accessible asset for the whole city.

Responding to a Member’s comments, clarification was provided that the Playhouse continued to produce work, whilst the redevelopment was taking place, with a briefing being offered to the Member in question.

Finally, it was noted that the theatre had recently been renamed the ‘Leeds Playhouse’.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That an injection of £1.280m into the existing Capital Scheme No. 32019 towards the cost of refurbishing and reconfiguring the West Yorkshire Playhouse, be authorised;

(b)  That a fully funded injection of £550,000 from the West Yorkshire Playhouse into the existing Capital Scheme No. 32019 towards the cost of refurbishing and reconfiguring the West Yorkshire Playhouse, be authorised;

(c)  That ‘Authority to Spend’ of £1.830m from Capital Scheme No. 32019 towards the cost of refurbishing and reconfiguring the West Yorkshire Playhouse, be approved;

(d)  That an injection of £0.160m into existing Capital Scheme No. 32804 towards the cost of the proposed public realm redevelopment and enhancement works at Gateway Court and Playhouse Square, be authorised;

(e)  That ‘Authority to Spend’ of £0.160 from Capital Scheme No. 32804 for the proposed public realm redevelopment and enhancement works at Gateway Court and Playhouse Square, be approved;

(f)  That subject to consultation being undertaken with the Executive Member for Economy and Culture, the necessary authority be delegated to the Director of City Development and the Chief Officer Financial Services in order to negotiate and approve the final terms associated with the receipt of the West Yorkshire Playhouse’s financial contribution to the proposed works to refurbish and reconfigure the playhouse building;

(g)  That approval be given to exempt the resolutions contained within this minute from the Call In process, for the reasons of urgency as detailed within sections 4.5.1 – 4.5.2 of the submitted report, and as it is considered that any delay in implementing such resolutions will prejudice the Council’s interests;

(h)  That the following be noted:-

(i)  The actions required to implement the above resolutions;

(ii)  The proposed timescales to progress the project, as detailed in paragraph 3.9 of the submitted report; and

(iii)  That the Chief Officer, Culture and Sport will be responsible for the implementation of such matters.

(The Council’s Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules state that a decision may be declared as being exempt from the Call In process if it is considered that any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s, or the public’s interests. In line with this, the resolutions contained within this minute were exempted from the Call In process, as per resolution (g) above, and for the reasons as detailed within section 4.5.1 – 4.5.2 of the submitted report, as it is considered that any delay in implementing the decisions will prejudice the Council’s interests)