Archived decisions
Hampshire County Council
Executive Member - Policy and Resources Item 2
7 December 2007
The Future of the Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
Report of the Director of Recreation & Heritage
Contact: Nicola Horsey Ext: 5423 E-mail: [email protected]
1. Summary:
The following decisions are sought:
a) That the management of the Tower Arts Centre be transferred from the Recreation & Heritage Department to Kings' School on 21 April 2008.
b) That the property be appropriated from Recreation & Heritage purposes to Children's Services purposes, staying within the County Council.
c) That Hampshire County Council provides £25,000 per year for a minimum of three years, starting in 2008/09, to develop cultural provision and programming at the Tower Arts Centre and other venues in Winchester, including hiring the Tower from Kings' School for evening performances. This is subject to Winchester City Council matching this commitment.
2. Reason
2.1 The County Council's Arts Strategy set out a framework for reassessing the County Council's involvement in arts centres, moving to reduced support and greater freedom of operation. Allied to this is the budget pressures which makes the position of the County Council's arts centres unsustainable. Transfer to the Kings' School provides a sustainable future for the Tower Arts Centre. There are no other alternatives that are both financially viable and meet the objectives of the Arts Strategy.
3. Other Options considered and rejected
3.1 Maintain the status quo - rejected because of the need to make financial savings in the Arts Service.
3.2 Rebalance of funding options - rejected because there are not new sources of public subsidy available for the Tower, nor would the Tower be able to attract sufficient levels of commercial sponsorship year on year.
3.3 Closure - rejected because of the loss of a community facility and likely planning issues too.
4. Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive member consulted - none
5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - none
6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - none
Approved by: .................................
Councillor T. K. Thornber, CBE. Date: 7 December 2007
Executive Member for Policy and Resources