Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure providing an overview of the Gloucester Guildhall Business Plan 2024-2029.

18.1    The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Councillor Courtney, introduced the report and confirmed that this was the first time the Council had produced a Business Plan relating to the Gloucester Guildhall venue. She explained that the Guildhall had been awarded National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status and as a result received funding from Arts Council England.

18.2    Members were advised that one of the conditions of receiving this funding was that the venue must have a business plan and that the Culture team had also seen a need for a strategic plan over a longer period of time to ensure that the vision for the Guildhall was being achieved. Councillor Courtney further noted that Business Plans for other cultural venues in the city, such as Blackfriars Priory and the Museum of Gloucester were already in place.

18.3    Councillor Courtney summarised the vision and mission of the Guildhall Business Plan as outlined in 3.3.4 of the report, noting that the Guildhall Steering Group has reviewed the Business Plan and had inputted into the document. She further drew Members’ attention to the four overarching goals threaded through the plan at 3.3.3 in the report and advised that the plan sought to follow an approach to ‘invest to save’. She explained that through the Council’s intention to invest in high quality programming and marketing, it was hoped that this would achieve good footfall, better engagement and increased spend.

18.4    Councillor Bell requested clarification as to the costs incurred by the Council in respect of the Guildhall during the previous year. The Head of Culture confirmed that this totalled approximately £300k.

18.5    In response to additional comments from Councillor Bell, Councillor Courtney advised that access to events at the Guildhall for people from all income backgrounds and communities was an objective of the programming the Council had planned for the next 5-year period.

18.6    Councillor Radley asked for further information regarding how the Council planned to increase the street presence of the Guildhall. Councillor Courtney acknowledged that there were visibility challenges with the location of the venue, particularly as the lower floors of the building were currently occupied by a local bank. She referred Members to the marketing section of the plan which outlined how the Council aimed to make the venue more visible, and noted that in her view, improving visibility was an important step in achieving increased footfall at the Guildhall.

18.7    Councillor Radley referred to the Steering Group and asked for further information as to how the group members were recruited, whether the role was a paid one and how the relationship worked in practice. The Head of Culture advised that the relationship was similar to a board of trustees of a charity and explained that the Council had recruited members from industry contacts and peers. The Head of Culture further explained that each of the 8 members were allocated an Investment Principle as required by Arts Council England and were paid £50 for attending each meeting.

18.8    In response  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure providing an overview of the Gloucester Guildhall Business Plan 2024-2029.

RESOLVED that the Guildhall Business Plan 2024-2029 is endorsed.

7.1      Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure which provided an overview of the Gloucester Guildhall Business Plan 2024-29.

7.2      The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Councillor Courtney, confirmed that this was the first Business Plan relating to the Gloucester Guildhall which had been brought before Cabinet. She explained that the Guildhall had been awarded National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status by Arts Council England which required the creation of a business plan in the first year. She noted that the Culture Team agreed with this requirement, particularly due to the fact that existing business plans were in place for other cultural venues in the city.

7.3      Councillor Courtney summarised the vision of the Guildhall Business Plan as set out in 3.3.4 in the report, and outlined the four overarching goals threaded through all sections of the plan at 3.3.3 in the report. She referred Cabinet to the narrative in section 2 of the Business Plan at appendix 1, and expressed her view that the plan was ambitious and based on detailed financial forecasting. She concluded by paying tribute to the Head of Culture and her team for their hard work in preparing the Business Plan.

7.4      Councillor Hilton commented that the Gloucester Guildhall Business Plan was impressive. He noted that the Guildhall was an important cultural asset for Gloucester and was pleased that the Council intended to continue to improve the venue and drive income. He was happy to endorse the recommendation in the report.

7.5      The Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Field, agreed that it was an excellent report and stated that he would like to continue to see a diverse range of acts at the venue. He asked whether consideration could be given to improving visibility of the Guildhall.

7.6      The Head of Culture confirmed that her team were exploring whether additional external signage and programming could be put in place on Eastgate Street. She noted that there were some limitations due to planning laws, however she was seeking to address the issue.

7.7      Councillor Hilton reflected on his experience of enjoying events in other venues in the city. He stated that he was happy to approve the recommendation in the report.

RESOLVED that the Guildhall Business Plan 2024-2029 is endorsed.