Issue - meetings

This report sets out a proposal to dispose of the Theatre Royal to the York Conservation Trust for a nominal sum in order to ensure that the necessary repairs can be undertaken to the Theatre to support its major refurbishment programme.

Resolved:  That Cabinet agrees to dispose of the Theatre Royal, York for £1 to York Conservation Trust to lease to York Citizens Theatre Trust and to reduce the commercial income budget by £23,000 pa from 2015/16.

Reason:     To ensure the long term operation of the Theatre Royal and remove ongoing financial repairs and maintenance liabilities for the Council.

Members considered a report which set out proposals for disposal of the Theatre Royal to the York Conservation Trust for the nominal sum of £1, in order to ensure that necessary repairs were undertaken to the Theatre to support its major refurbishment programme.

The proposal had arisen from the Council’s asset review, undertaken to examine opportunities to reduce the ongoing repairs and maintenance cost of the Council’s assets in order to support other projects. Whilst the Theatre had been successful in securing funding for a programme of refurbishment and improvement, the building was in poor condition and the majority funder, Arts Council England, were unwilling to fund the works whilst the building was in a poor state of repair.

In answer to earlier questions, Members confirmed that the Theatre had signed a 25 year lease with the York Citizen’s Theatre Trust in September 2014, in order to access grant monies. It was also confirmed that the authority would continue to appoint Members on to the Theatre Trust and provide grant funding.

Members expressed their full support for the proposals, highlighting York Conservation Trusts excellent record in the maintenance of buildings and confirming that it was felt that the disposal was in the best interests of the city.

Consideration was then given to the following options:

Option 1 – Retain and undertake capital repairs to the Theatre   Royal

Option 2 - Dispose of the Theatre Royal on the open market

Option 3 – Dispose of the Theatre Royal to York Conservation Trust

Resolved:  That Cabinet agrees to dispose of the Theatre Royal, York for £1 to York Conservation Trust to lease to York Citizens Theatre Trust and to reduce the commercial income budget by £23,000 pa from 2015/16. ^1.

Reason:     To ensure the long term operation of the Theatre Royal and remove ongoing financial repairs and maintenance liabilities for the Council.