Archived decisions
Briefing note for Councillor Ken Thornber and Councillor Briggs
Proposed South East Hampshire Cultural Centre (Havant)
10 July 2008
Background
Councillors Briggs, Snaith and Lenaghan have met with officers to review options for the future of the museum and arts facilities in Havant borough. In summary the outcome from the meeting on 8 July is that a way forward has been agreed for an interim arrangement for a joint Heritage and Arts Centre and in addition key principles have been established to consider the potential a medium term solution to establish a new Cultural Centre either on the same site or in Havant Town Centre and make better use of property assets owned by both authorities to facilitate joint service delivery.
Interim Arrangement
It is proposed that Havant Arts Centre and Havant Museum are merged to form a new `Heritage and Arts Centre' offering an integrated programme. The centre will be managed on an operational level by the Director at Havant Arts Centre with support from Hampshire County Council Museums Service. The Arts Centre is an independent charity funded by public subscription and supported by Hampshire County Council and Havant Borough Council. The current SLA will be amended to reflect the resultant additional costs and responsibilities involved in absorbing the museum function. This proposal will reduce overhead costs through efficiency gains by reducing staffing levels and, it is estimated, will cost each authority £13,900 annually plus ongoing support for premises and services in line with current levels. It is anticipated that this arrangement will be for the period 2009 -2011.
The gun and clock collections will be returned to central collections and the upper floor areas of the museum will be made available as office and workshop space for arts organisations which are to be relocated from Bedhampton Arts Centre and Havant Borough Council's civic offices. HCC intends to make a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to improve the local history displays and refurbish the gallery spaces. Havant is one of only four priority areas in the South East for HLF funds over the next five years.
The future
In the medium term, officers are investigating the potential for developing a new more extensive Arts and Heritage/Cultural centre offering arts, heritage and other services. They are working with private, public and voluntary sector partners to develop viable proposals. This could possibly form part of the Market Parade redevelopment in Havant town centre or there may be room for improvement on the existing East Street site. The aim is to increase capacity and improve facilities to offer a high quality performance and exhibition programme and to encourage greater participation by the community and by young people in particular. The new facilities could be completed by 2012 resource permitting.
In terms of the potential new site at or near Market Parade, there would be opportunities to consider the rationalisation of existing assets owned by both authorities to support reinvestment in the new centre. The project could easily encompass the modernisation of service delivery across a range of County and Borough functions through a one stop facility linked to appropriate back office functions. This would provide innovative and accessible service delivery solutions and be consistent with the aspirations of both authorities to secure continuous improvement in service delivery whilst securing efficiency in asset management.
Recommendations
Leaders of Hampshire County Council and Havant Borough Council to:
1. Endorse the approach outlined in this paper, and
2. Give approval for officers to work up detailed proposals for the Cabinet and Executive of both authorities, respectively.
Contact / Author: Yinnon Ezra, Director of Recreation & Heritage, HCC
Frank Campbell, Corporate Director, HBC