Issue - meetings

To consider the joint report of the Corporate Manager Executive Support and City Surveyor.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 9 November 2017 and its comments will be reported.

The City Surveyor presented the report updating Members on the outcome of the work of the New Entertainment Venue Advisory Group (NEVAG) set up to advise on city centre venue requirements and present findings of the new venue needs assessment. The Group included a broad range of representatives from the arts, cultural and entertainment sectors. The Group had worked with officers to oversee a new venue needs assessment which had been undertaken by Fourth Street, a consultancy. The Fourth Street document also included an appraisal of a number of possible sites for any new venue and the recommendation of the appraisal was that the Corn Exchange was the preferred location for any entertainment venue. The findings of the assessment would now be the subject of a detailed public consultation and engagement with stakeholders and the wider public.

The Portfolio Holder for City Transformation, Energy and Transport commented that this report was supported by Place Scrutiny Committee and once the public consultation exercise had been undertaken the Council would have a better picture of how to take forward any proposals for a new entertainment venue.

Members supported the proposed way forward.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 9 November 2017 and its comments were reported.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)        progress and comment on the findings of the needs assessment be noted; and

(2)        a public consultation exercise on the findings of the needs assessment be approved;

RECOMMENDED that Council;

(3)        accepts the reports’ recommendation that the Corn Exchange is the preferred location for any entertainment venue; and

(4)        approves a budget of £5,000 for a public consultation exercise on the findings of the needs assessment.

To consider the report of the Corporate Manager – Executive Support and the City Surveyor.

The City Surveyor presented the report which updated Members on the outcome of the work of the New Entertainment Venue Advisory Group (NEVAG) which had been set up to discuss the city centre’s entertainment venue requirements. The Group included a broad range of representatives from the arts, cultural and entertainment sectors. They had worked with officers to oversee a new venue needs assessment which had been undertaken by consultants, Fourth Street. The assessment included an appraisal of a number of possible sites for any new venue. It was proposed that detailed public consultation and engagement be undertaken to enable a wide group of interested parties and individuals to comment on the findings The Corporate Manager – Executive Support stated that his team would carry out an in-house consultation exercise and involve the members of NEVAG.

Members offered the following views: -

·         lamenting the demise of the former Civic Hall on Queen Street, but welcomed the opportunity to create a functional venue that could cater for all.

·         the importance of a full and robust consultation, and the additional facility would offer a further platform for entertainment in the city. The Member was pleased that the consultation was being carried out in-house and he acknowledged that NEVAG had been very proactive so far.

·         the need to ensure the consultation would include not only Exeter residents but those in the wider catchment of Devon. The Corporate Manager – Executive Support advised that the consultation would not be limited to within Exeter’s boundary. The Director of Marketing and Communications referred to the comprehensive and wide reaching data base already held by the Corn Exchange which would be used.

·         that consideration for a theatre or event hotel package be explored.

In response to Members’ comments the City Surveyor stated that the request for funding to carry out consultation did not extend to the issue of viability at this stage, but that would be fully explored when all of the necessary information was obtained. He confirmed that the consultation would commence after the report had been considered by the Executive and Council and after the busy Christmas period.

Place Scrutiny Committee supported the report and requested Executive to recommend approval by Council of the following:-

(1)        that the Corn Exchange be the preferred location for any entertainment venue; and

(2)        funding of £5,000 for a public consultation exercise on the findings of the needs assessment.