News and views from Paul Bull, the Labour and Co-operative Councillor for the St THOMAS Ward of Exeter City Council. Promoted by Dom Collins on behalf of Paul Bull, both of 26b, Clifton Hill, Exeter, EX1 2DJ.
E&E Community News | St Thomas – Spring [Deep] Clean
A part of St Thomas is due to have an early spring clean.
In response to local concerns from residents, local councillors have been able to confirm areas that are to get a deep by the City Council this year.
The areas currently on the list are Old Vicarage Road, Tin Lane , Powderham Road, Shaftesbury Road , Duckworth Road , Barton Road through to the Cowick Street entrance, Church Path Road, Holland Road, Parkhouse Road, Coleridge Road, Churchill Road , and the rear of Cowick Lane that backs on to the terraced areas.
The clean up time will run from Monday the14th March to Thursday 24th March 2016 and focus primarily on those roads that have been so far identified.
Local councillor Paul Bull said: “This was one of the main issues that we picked up locally after listening to local people in this part of St Thomas, so we wanted to get these areas on the list for action , especially as many of the back alleys are getting very grubby , weeds need pulling , and there is some general dumping and litter, and we are regularly getting complaints.
“We will look to putting out a local street letter to the effected properties ahead of the allotted time to help raise awareness.”
Cllr Hannaford added: “it will be really good to get some spring cleaning done at these locations.
“It’s been a rough old wet winter and the mild weather has meant that many of the weeds have not died back as usual so, with all the high winds and storms, they will have been a magnet for litter blowing around.
“Also many people in these terraced areas actually use their back alleys a lot for access, for example taking the dogs for a walk, so it’s really important they are kept clear nd clean”
During the current financial year , St Thomas Cllrs Hannah Packham and Rob Hannaford have agreed the following community grants for local groups and residents.
St Thomas Methodist Church: £300 for raised beds.
St Thomas Bowling Club: £200 for a new hot water urn .
Pinces Garden: £300 for a Garden Party this coming May.
Pinces Gardens Bowling Club: £300 for new crockery and folding tables.
Age UK: £225 towards a Dementia allotment project.
The Bloom’In St Thomas Group: £300 for new wildflower plantings.
St Thomas Allotment Association: £100 towards new notice boards
Cllr Packham said: “ It’s been great to use these local grants in St Thomas for a range of very worthwhile projects.
“It often means that when an issue arises , or a piece of equipment goes wrong , we can be proactive straight away.
“For many small organisations relying on volunteers, grants up to three hundred pounds can make a big difference.
“Where some local projects serve more than one ward , we can on occasions agree cluster funding from several ward budgets. Please keep coming forward to us with your ideas , projects and suggestions”
Fellow St Thomas Cllr Rob Hannaford , who originally set up these grants when he was the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Communities, added: “These delegated ward grants that all City Councillors have each year do a huge amount of good positive work across the whole city , that often add value to the grass roots fund raising efforts by volunteers.
“Over many years we have always made full use of them in and around St Thomas.
“This includes supporting all sorts of charities , church groups , community organisations , and sports clubs.”
Cllr Hannaford added: “Another important element to the grants is providing local ward members with an important tool in fulfilling their leadership role of local community champions.
“This work is very important at the moment , with public sector cuts and reducing central government funding , in that we work with local people to achieve sustainable projects and generally promote resilience.“
The recent budget setting meeting at the City Council confirmed that each of the new three member wards will have £3,000 each.
If people would like information , guidance , or to make an application. they are encouraged to make contact with their local councillors , or Dawn Rivers, the Community Involvement and Inclusion Officer at the City Council, who can be emailed at dawn.rivers@exeter.gov.uk .
An 11th hour bid to save Devon’s school crossing patrollers has been launched.
Parents, grandparents and anyone who wants to see the continuation of what is regarded as a vital and life-saving service in Devon, is being asked to contact councillor John Hart, the leader of Devon County Council, by phone or email before it is too late.
The Heart to Hart campaign has been launched by school crossing patroller campaigners and is being backed by Cllr Alan Connett, Liberal Democrat group leader on Devon County Council.
He said: “My call would be for every parent, grandma and grandad in Devon to email Cllr Hart and say they want to keep our school crossing patrollers.
“They can also contact their local conservative councillors as they are the ones who voted to cut the service.
“This is our 11th hour chance to save school crossing patrollers. When they’re gone they’re gone.”
Cllr Connett said he was concerned not much money would be saved if the council has to spend out on traffic islands or alternative safety management outside schools. He added he was also worried parents would no longer feel it was safe for their older children to walk to school which would increase traffic on Devon’s roads and impact on children’s health by being driven to school instead of walking.
“The decision is a false economy,” he said. “Labour put forward a different proposal, as did the Independents and Liberal Democrats. We could have found the money for it.”
At last week’s meeting, the majority of councillors voted in favour of Cllr Hart’s recommendation to approve the budget for 2016/17, which excluded funding for school lollipop patrollers. A further debate of the service will take place at the council’s scrutiny committee meeting on Monday, 07 March.
Overwhelming opposition from schools, councillors and the public – along with three petitions with one signed by more than 1,000 people – failed to sway the mind of Devon County Council in its mission to save £250,000 a year from its budget.
Under the new proposals, school patrollers will be employed by a third party that would deliver the service on a full-cost recovery or commercial basis.
If schools decide not to fund the cost of their patrol, the alternatives are for it to be run by volunteers or to lose the service.
To make sure the service continues to be delivered safely, the council says it is prepared to continue a degree of support such as establishing and monitoring quality standards, providing training and doing risk assessments.
Save our school lollipop patrollers campaigner Marie Leverett, a mum from Stoke Hill, Exeter, said: “I sincerely hope the County Council will reconsider it’s position at the scrutiny committee on 07 March, and take some time to think through the ramifications of this ludicrous budget cut in the short, medium and long term.”
At last week’s full council meeting, Cllr Hart said: “It’s not an easy decision to make but I think it’s the right decision for us to take.”
To join the Heart to Hart campaign, send an email to Cllr Hart asking to save Devon’s school lollipop patrollers at john.hart@devon.gov.uk or call him on 01752 403554.
Exeter aims to bring more rough sleepers in from the cold
New steps are being taken to help bring Exeter’s rough sleepers in from the cold.
Exeter City Council is gearing up to the winter with an action plan to which will see 26 spaces to accommodate rough sleepers from December 1 to February 28 – , including specific provision for women.
The City Council is working in partnership with a number of groups including the police and St Petrock’s to offer a safe place to sleep for those with no other options available.
Since 2010 there has been a yearly increase in the numbers of people rough sleeping in England. In Exeter last year there was an increase of 48per cent.
City Council Leader, Pete Edwards, said: “‘We are committed to reversing this trend by tackling the causes of homelessness and rough sleeping, although it will be an ongoing challenge.
“We recognise that many people who are homeless have complex issues. We are trying to work creatively with partner agencies to offer a safe place to sleep and the right support to get people through the winter.”
Agencies will work together with the homeless, focussing on longer term plans, and in a specific place rather than trying to meet up on the street.
It is hoped that this will help those who may have refused to ‘come inside’ and help manage anti-social behaviour within the city. Clients with no local connection will be offered reconnection services so that the provision is linked to local demand.
The project includes support alongside a place to sleep with the intention of being able to offer as many ongoing accommodation placements as possible by the end of February.
I have been in long-term correspondence over the Exeter City Council’s ‘iconic’ building on the site of the Bus and Coach Station…here’s the latest instalment.
I hope that these discussion help you realise that the decision over the future direction of the Bus & Coach Station development site is much more considered than many people realise.
If you have been following the story closely, you will know that the option to develop the site was awarded to Land Securities and Crown Estate back 2010.
Under the deal, Land Securities would draw up proposals for the site and would be granted a long- term lease by the Council, which would still own the freehold.
The developer would then pay for the redevelopment of the site and lease units to retailers. Land Securities will now draw up a feasibility plan and the Council will have the final say on any proposals.
Of course this was under the previous LD administration when Leader Adrian Fullam had a letter in the E&E City centre theatre idea is unrealistic(15 March 2010).
1) The plans are expected to include a multi-screen cinema
As Adrian pointed out back in 2010, Land Securities are “Land Securities is a commercial company”. The same is true of their successors on the project, TIAA Henderson Real Estate.
They are now responsible for regenerating the current Bus & Coach Station site – they are investing £70m in the project – of course, they will be expecting to make a substantial return.
The terms of their option gives them full control (subject to the usual planning restrictions) to make best use of that land as they see fit.
As to whether a multiplex is finally delivered on the emerging site is simply a matter of economics.
Each and every one of the 3 multi-screen cinemas operates on a commercial basis – if not, they would close down.
I am assuming that TH Real Estate and Crown Estate have had the relevant conversations with a cinema chain and/or independent and reckon they can get a financial return on delivering a new cinema on this site.
2) It is understood that a new swimming pool is needed to replace the Pyramids.
To be clear the leisure complex is going to much more than a swimming pool, it will have gym and other facilities – more details from Exeter Active, and you see outline details of the building design on Gale and Snowden’s Swim4Exeter page.
Initial design drawing [Gale and Snowden] As it stands, the research and business case shows that the new leisure complex will NOT be an Olympic-sized pool. I’ve tried swimming in Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh and it really is daunting.
I am really exciting that this ‘iconic’ building can be built to PassivHaus standards.
I for one would be seriously worried if the new leisure centre were located at one of the suggested alternatives – Arena Park. Many bus route have been threatened by withdrawal of services and I fear that this situation will only get worse in the future.
I want a facility that is easily accessible to all – not just those that can rely on private car use.
I haven’t got the actual usage details of Riverside to hand, but a report to Scrutiny – Economy in January 2014 reported an INCREASE of 44,000 customers at Riverside Leisure Centre in comparison to year one, and a significant rise at the Pyramids Swimming Centre with an increase of 29,000.
And to put that in to some perspective – if Theatre Royal Plymouth were open to provide 9 performance a week, there would be an audience of some 1500 (in the 2 venues) per performance, that’s 13,000 each week and totaling 702,000.
But I would once more reiterate that each visitor to Exeter’s Leisure Complex would bring in an income to the Council.
Currently, TRP is a National Portfolio Organisation [NPO] of Arts Council England [ACE] and receives funding to the tune of £1,185,500 – this is committed for the next 3 years. Note I use the phrase committed, rather than guaranteed, as ACE have have stated this could be reviewed if they themselves receive cuts in Government funding.
For your information, the following Exeter-based Theatre Companies receive annual NPO funding from ACE:
Bikeshed – £75k
Northcott – 125k
Alibi – £241k
Kaleider – £110k
and Exeter Phoenix is an NPO for Combined Arts – £125k
As I’ve mentioned in previous correspondence, I think that a new theatre venture in Exeter would be very unlikely to attract such significant funding from ACE.
In addition to susbisdy from ACE, TRP currently enjoys revenue grant support of £665,000 from Plymouth City Council. The freehold of the Theatre Royal Plymouth (built in 1982) is owned by PCC and let to the operator at a peppercorn rent.
The reality is that a new theatre would cost residents for each and every seat sold.
As a city cllr, I am committed to retaining as much of the current green open space as possible, and any building on the site of Belmont Park would reduce the capacity available for events such as Exeter Respect.
The amphitheatre is an open space within the new development that I would imagine would be used for ad hoc events and informal gatherings (even a new location for the Farmers’ Market?) – rather in the way that Coventry’s Millenium Square is used – rather than for formal money-making initiatives.
3) No reference is made to building a much-needed theatre
I think that in my previous thoughts I have taken issue with this view – the theatre is desired but there is no NEED.
I will admit that’s my view – but with over 5 years of active doorstep work within Cowick, I can honestly say the issue of city centre theatre has been raised with me ONCE. I can take you to the resident, it was so memorable.
I see constant letters from the same people regularly appearing in the E&E expressing their desire, I understand the economic benefits if a city centre theatre, I want “the arts and culture an economic driver of the growth of the city”.
It’s just my view of theatre differs from yours. That’s why I do back the desire of the Theatre For Exeter Development Group to carry out a full feasibility study for the project. What I’m not prepared to so is fully fund that study – and I believe the T4E Development Group aren’t expecting the City Council to do so.
I would be willing to place a bet – that the feasibility study would find that the financial case for a 1200 seat theatre capable to presenting Number One tours (those seen at TRP) will not stack up.
And I’m willing to place a second one – that a 800-900 seater theatre would be financially viable.
What do I do then?
Ignore the study and plump for the unsustainable venue you want, or the one that we can afford and support?
At the meeting of Exeter Civic Society where the T4E Development Group came into being, there were many who mourned the loss of the resident Artistic Director and repertory nature of the programme at the Northcott.
I have high hopes that the appointment of Paul Jepson up on the hill will start to address these issues – and I feel that his plans will be much more than “developing local production in co-operation with Exeter University”.
You also make mention of parking at the University – there is NO shortage of car parking spaces, albeit a couple of minutes walk away from the theatre. There is also a useful bus service that runs the city centre (and to my home in Heavitree). It is certainly much more accessible to the city centre than Warwick Arts Centre is to Coventy.
The future of the current Pyramids site is still to be decided – I personally would like this to be a major music venue like the Academy chain seen around the country – but I fear I, too, will be disappointed!
You bring back the 1962 closure of the old Theatre Royal – there has been a replacement for this – the Northcott. That was the legacy I inherited when I joined the council in 2011 – I wish different decisions had been taken back then, but they weren’t. We have to progress from where we are now,
Funding cannot be redirected from the ‘unnecessary” cinema no funding from ECC is being directed there – as I explained earlier, that’s a commercial decision for TH Real Estates and Crown Estates.
The “unnecessary” amphitheatre is something I desire, and have fought hard to retain in the plans – once again there is NO ECC funding for this
4) The City Council must be aware that the small shops are steadily closing in the city
Yet I see thriving independent shops along Paris Street – The Real Food Store (declaration of interest, I’m a minor shareholder), Jelly, The Sandwich Shop, the gift shop (UPDATE: Hyde & Seek!) – and I for one want to see this independent network retained and grown once the new development comes to fruition.
As I say, I’ve given it a lot of thought, as have many of my colleagues.
I’m sure we’ll correspond more once the planning application for TH Real Estates and Crown Estates is lodged with ECC.
As someone who proudly marched through the city centre last year under the Exeter Together banner, I am deeply saddened by the vile and racist outbursts that accompanied the planning application for a change of use to the old John Holts property.
Defaced notification of planning application
It seems to me that ill-informed intolerance, and offensive and abusive comments have lead to the withdrawal of the application to use the building as a Muslim Community Centre
There were some problems associated with parking, as outlined in the officer’s report, but I don’t think that was the root cause of many of the comments I saw.
My fear is that this property will now lay vacant for many years to come.
These words from the organisers of last year’s Exeter Together were published in the Express & Echo and sum up my feelings on the matter
We are writing as some of the organisers of Exeter Together, which just over a year ago held a huge march and festival in Exeter in opposition to the march by the racist English Defence League. Then over 1000 people joined with us to celebrate the diversity that we have in Exeter.
We read with sadness that the planning application for a community centre in St Thomas by the Shia Muslim community has been withdrawn following the cowardly attacks on it.
With regard to the planning application we recognise that there were valid concerns about parking from some people. However judging by some of the comments on the Express and Echo Facebook page much of the opposition seems to have been motivated by misunderstandings, or in some cases by prejudice against Muslims.
The application made clear that the centre would have been a resource for ALL the community in St Thomas, not just for Shia Muslims to use.
Other comments and the stickers that were put up on the old John Holt shop seem to suggest that the South West Ahlulbayt Centre applying for the centre would have links to jihadis and the Islamic State (ISIS).
Perhaps these people are unaware (or choosing to ignore) that Shia Muslims have been killed in their thousands by ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
We congratulate the Express and Echo on its principled stand against prejudice in our community. We hope that the Shia community will realise that the vast majority of people in Exeter love their city, and welcome the presence of all people, faiths and cultures in this great city of ours.
Ian Martin
Lizi Allnatt
Mike Gurney
Richard Bradbury
Kate Hannan
Tom Milburn
Carlus Hudson
Sandhya Dave
Sue Ryan
Megan Thomas
Kim Chenoweth
Mic Morgan
Rae Ebdon
Dave Chappell
Robert Crick
Vivien Crick
Ghee Bowman
Andrew Duncan
Jack Davies
Catherine Craig
Leaflet issued by St Thomas Residents’ Awareness Alliance
Following the publication by the Express & Echo of my letter on how I saw the financial viability of a 1200-seater city centre theatre, I have been amazed by how many compliments I’ve received. But others have questioned my views and suggested alternatives.
One such was asking why that city centre theatre couldn’t emulate the Rose Theatre in Kingston – a conversation of an Odeon Cinema – and one of the options mentioned by the Theatre for Exeter Development Group.
Here are my thoughts on the subject:
The overwhelming majority of voices I’m hearing is for a competitor to Plymouth’s Theatre Royal – with an auditorium seating in excess of 1200 and presenting the touring productions of musicals and theatre that constitute the programme in their Lyric Theatre. There are other models – costing considerably less, but I believe not meeting the *demands* of those currently calling for this large city centre theatre.
The Rose in Kingston is an interesting model – 900’capcity circular auditorium inspired by the shape of an Elizabethan theatre, but by no means looking backwards.
The thrust stage juts out into the auditorium, giving a new perspective to the relationship between performer and audience member. This alone would rule out the major shows the majority of correspondents in the E&E are calling for.
But it does reflect the kind of theatre I would like to see.
So to the construction costs – yes only £11m!
However, we don’t own the Odeon, so someone would have to find the money to buy it in the first instance. And that’s if the Odeon would consider selling someone the building.
It’s worth noting that the 2012/2013 annual accounts of the Kingston Theatre Trust (which manages the Rose) show the venue made a loss of more than £200k – this despite continued funding of £500k from Kingston Council and a further £380k from Kingston University.
However, I will acknowledge that there may be other models of financing and funding that might work – that’s why I need to see a viable business case.
If I were to play devil’s advocate (and second guess the final report), it is probable that the conclusion of Theatre For Exeter Development Group will be that a 1200-seat theatre is economically unviable, and it will recommend a venue with a capacity 750 – 1000. Will this placate those calling for a rival to the Plymouth Theatre Royal – NO.
Could I back this with an accompanying 10 year action plan as proposed by the T4E development Group – a qualified YES I was (and have been all through this debate) careful not to say NEVER to a city centre theatre. With an ailing and failing Pyramids, we need a swimming pool (actually, it’s really a leisure complex!) NOW.
The fact and figures where present to highlight why I feel that we cannot deliver it NOW.
Much of the discourse in the E&E and elsewhere seems to suggest that ECC cllrs have not even considered whether a theatre is viable now.
Trust me when I say I’ve led a delegation of key cllrs and senior officers to see Plymouth Theatre Royal (and their associated workshops, wardrobe and rehearsal space, TR2 – costing them close on £10m alone) and had informal chats with ACE.
Just like the general public at large, there are Individual factions of cllrs in favour, indifferent and totally against the idea of a new theatre. I would hazard a guess that some would like to see ECC follow Devon’s lead and cut all “arts for arts sake funding”.
Here in Exeter we (you) are lucky – there are 3 arts professionals within the ruling Exeter Labour Group – and I know I’ll be doing my best to endure that Exeter continues to fund arts and culture.
We are only one of 3 local authorities in the country that currently spend 50p per week per resident
(this is the focus of the National Campaign for the Arts current campaign – 50p for culture: http://www.50pforculture.org)
Much is this is because of the amount that we spend on RAMM, but we still invest significant sums of money in a wide range of theatre provision. Looking at shifting this funding to a new theatre building would threaten Exeter’s current vibrant theatre ecology.
I am aware of the work of the Theatre For Exeter Development Group, as I was there at the original debate at Belmont Chapel organised by the Exeter Civic Group.
I welcome the action plan , and am looking forward to the thoughts of their theatre consultation on what they think might may be viable in the city.
If the report from their consultant can show a viable business case for a city-centre, I am sure a suitable site could be found.
What I am less confident about is whether the City Council could (or even should) deliver the theatre.
The current report doesn’t seem to be wedded to this form of delivery – there is mention of local fundraising, trust funds, etc.
And the report doesn’t even know what sort of model would be used to run the theatre once it’s been built.
Let me play devil’s advocate for a second? Especially if that business case might show some surprises.
When we started out on the journey towards a swimming pool, I thought that it would be a 50m competition pool or nothing. The business case now shows that a 25m pool is needed in the SW – short-course competitions, water polo and many other activities are much more viable than a full 50m one.
What would be the view of the Theatre For Exeter Development Group if the consultant could show a business case for city-centre theatre seating 750-1000, rather than the 1200 one to rival Plymouth Theatre (which seems to be the focus of the calls I’m hearing)?
I think I have to stop there and wait to see what the consultant’s report proposes.
Let me be clear, I have never said NEVER! I am a creative person and have managed to create magic out of nothing myself. Let’s see if we can do that it Exeter, even if it does take a decade.
So in theory if a viable business plan for a city-centre theatre (of whatever size) can be drawn up, I would be willing to consider it as part of the longer term strategy for the development of the city centre.
Over recent weeks there has been a great deal of debate, primarily with the Readers’ Letters pages of the Express & Echo but also elsewhere. However,to my surprise, it is rarely mentioned when I’m talking to Cowick residents of #LabourDoorstep.
While I respect the views of the correspondents, I take issue with them when they say that Exeter City Council hasn’t even considered the possibility
Indeed there is one such letter in this week’s Express & Echo, from Jackie McKee [READER’S LETTER | “Growing Exeter needs venue”, 08 Jan 2015] who says:
“This was the latest in a continuing series of such remarks made by Cllr Edwards who seems intrinsically and irrationally opposed to a new theatre for the city.”
This in turn was making a reference to comments made the previous week by Jack Passmore [READER’S LETTER | “Bus station site is ideal for theatre”, 01 Jan 2015]
“Their argument seems to be based on the financial viability of having a theatre, and not the facility that the capital city desperately needs in its centre for everyone to use”
Some residents have contacted me about this issue. Here is my response:
Many thanks for your (not so) recent comments on the siting of the swimming pool on the site of the Bus & Coach Station site.
It is an issue I have long considered since moving to Exeter in 2004 – whether it be converting the old Debenhams building or building one on the site of the Bus & Coach Station redevelopment.
I have written letters to the E&E, tweeted about the subject as @CllrPaul4Cowick and blogged about it – many of these thoughts can be found HERE.
I have been following the conversations on the calls for a new theatre on the Bus & Coach Station site since they were first raised in Express & Echo by Steve Bloomfield nearly 2 years ago [‘Turn bus station site into new theatre‘, Express & Echo, 08 March 2012]
I have decided to enter the debate at this stage following the comments made by Jack Passmore on the letters page of last week’s edition – and in particular, ‘their argument seems to be based on the financial viability of a theatre.’
As a city councillor, I am elected to consider such things; I have to consider the financial viability of a capital expenditure on such a major project. As an elected member to Exeter City Council I have to look at the facts.
Other correspondents have talked about having a large theatre slap bang in the centre of the city if I understand them correctly nothing short of a theatre with a capacity over 1200 plus to rival Plymouth’s Theatre Royal would satisfy their wishes?
So let’s explore the financial viability of those desires, shall we?
I’m not sure if people know, but I am theatre practitioner – a freelance theatre sound designer that works across the country and internationally.
During 2012/13, I toured the UK with Stephen Daldry’s award winning production of An Inspector Calls on a Number 1 tour playing venues in the main seating 1000+
In the main, these were traditional theatres, often built by the great Frank Matchum in late 1800s. However, we did visit some more recent examples.
Indeed, one in particular struck me as most interesting – the Waterside at Aylesbury. A striking building with a seated capacity of 1200 (and retractable seating to give a standing capacity of 1800). And it was built in the last few years, opening in the autumn of 2010. I could see something like that in the middle of Exeer
So I did some research…
The venue cost in the region of £47m to build
Compare this with the cost of the swimming pool. The business case we have worked up shows that £20m capital expenditure will be spent on this new asset, funded by a combination of New Homes Bonus, Community Infrastructure Levy, capital receipts from land sales and borrowing.
If this was spent on a new theatre rather than replaced an ailing swimming pool, the amounts of NHB, CIL and capital receipts would be similar. So any difference would have to be made up entirely from borrowing – £27m of ADDITIONAL borrowing.
There is a Theatre For Exeter Development Group that has looked at the background to building a new theatre in the city centre, and they released a report in February 2014.
In their report, the T4E Group outline where they think the money might come from (this is definitely NOT a business case). The report points to private investment, local fundraising, national lottery support and subsidy form Arts Council England covering some of the costs of the new theatre – but admits that a shortfall “would leave a commitment by Exeter City Council and other local government partners” of between 40% and 60% of the overall cost.
But I reiterate, these figure are guesstimates of what neighbouring local authorities and Devon County Council might contribute, No one has asked them as yet.
It is my belief that DCC, East Devon District Council and Teignbridge District Councils already have enough calls on their rapidly diminishing budgets – and would be unlikely to answer calls to fund a new theatre in Exeter. But who knows? Perhaps something might arise – Phoenix-like – out of the recently announced Memorandum of Understanding on Greater Exeter Visioning Partnership?
So where else might funding for the new venue come from?
Mr Passmore’s recent letter suggests that the City Council could raise money by selling the Northcott Theatre to the University. There is a fatal flaw in this suggestion – the University already owns the theatre.
Informal discussions with Arts Council England [ACE] hint that there would be little or no money from them for a new theatre in Exeter.
So without the magical appearance of a modern-day Mr Northcott coming forward to fund the new theatre, I cannot see how it could be built.
And believe it or not, raising the capital for the project tis probably the easy part! There is then the issue of funding of the running costs to be considered.
From April 2015, ACE is ploughing significant funds into the Northcott, Theatre Alibi and Bike Shed Theatre (as well as other arts and cultural bodies within the city, including RAMM) under the 3-year National Portfolio Organisation scheme. Because of this, I am certain there would be no likelihood of significant ACE funding coming forward to subsidise any of the running costs of the new operation.
Going back to the Waterside in Aylesbury, there the local council pays a commercial organisation (ATG – Ambassadors. Theatre Group) some £25,000 PER MONTH to run the venue on their behalf. This is a one-way transaction – ATG get any profit with nothing being returned to Aylesbury Vale District Council by ATG.
So why would AVDC chose to go down this route? Probably because their previous civic theatre was losing them more than £740k a year when it closed.
I talked earlier about borrowing for the capital costs – there is no chance of borrowing to cover revenue costs. So ECC would need to find the money from revenue sources.
The City Council already invests heavily in the arts and cultural sector within Exeter, with no spare funds to invest in the significant running costs of such a building.
Could DCC, EDDC and TDC contribute? Nothing to stop them in the past, they used to help fund the Northcott. But they no longer do.
Each of these local authorities have cut their arts and culture funding in times of relatively prosperity, so it doesn’t bode well in these austere times.
Back in April 2014, National Campaign for the Arts analysed local authority spending on arts, museums and heritage as part of 50p for Culture. It found that Exeter is one of only 3 local authorities spending more than 50p per person per week in arts, museums and heritage (the other 2 are City of London and Middlesborough).
For comparison, Plymouth spends 19p, East Devon 03p, Teignbridge 02p and Devon County Council only 01p per person per week.
And at their Full Council meeting in early December, DCC announced that from 2016, they would be cutting entirely any funding of “arts for arts sake”.
As a theatre practitioner I wish it weren’t so, but as a city councillor I have to take heed of the financial viability of such a project. As it stands at the moment, I cannot see a way to make the figures stack up.
I know that the T4E Development Group are currently in the process of engaging a theatre consultant to look at making a viable business case – and from that develop an action plan for a new theatre to cove the next decade. To that end, I wish them well.
Many people seem to think the option for a new city centre theatre is the Bus Station site or nothing.
I think that the New Theatre for Exeter Group are more open-minded about the siting of a new building and I believe that there may other options in the city centre that might come forward.
So it is a mistake to represent the discussion on the swimming pool and theatre as if one prevents the other – they are only mutually exclusive on the Bus & Coach Station redevelopment site.
If someone can make a viable business case and come up with a funding package, I am sure a suitable site (other than the Bus and Coach) might become available
So why a swimming pool over a theatre – there is a demonstrable NEED for the form to set again an understandable DESIRE for the latter.
The Pyramids is an ailing –and rapidly deteriorating – facility that is well past its original lifespan – I’ve seen reports from 2001 suggesting that a replacement was urgently required). It often has operational problems – at times costing large funds to put right. It will take tender loving care to keep it limping on to 2018.
That’s why I have supported Exeter City Council in building the business case for a new swimming pool and leisure complex now.
And that’s why I have been proud to support the inclusion of a new swimming pool for the city in the manifesto commitments made by Exeter Labour Party in successive local elections.
It’s not that I don’t see the benefits that a new theatre could bring to the city centre, but I really can’t support the call for a new theatre without a financially viable case being made.
As previously disclosed in Community News, there are more that 200 potholes in Dorset Avenue.
And as a petition is about to be presented to the County Council, local councillor Paul Bull has discovered through a Freedom of Information request that, so far this year, DCC has paid out more than £5,700 in compensation to Exeter car drivers for damage caused by the state of th’s road – that is nearly as much as was paid out in total for the whole of the previous 4 years.
Cllr Bull told Comunity News:“Despite earlier reassurances, it was decided that Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee [HATOC] was not the correct body to receive our Dorset Avenue resurfacing petition, and it was agreed it should either be presented to either Devon County Council’s Cabinet or Full Council instead.
“It is hoped that Cllr Roy Hill would do this at the December meeting of one of these bodies.”
Fellow councillor Heather Morris said: “Of course, it was frustrating – not for us, but for the 100 signatories of the petition.
“And those 200 potholes are just the tip of the iceberg. There are potholes all over the ward.”
Cllr Bull added: “On Saturday, I was speaking to a resident in Oak Road, who told me that his street hasn’t been resurfaced in the 30 years he’s lived there.
“He was telling me he’s just about to get his car repaired yet again after damage caused by the road surface.”
Cllr Bull said: “The response to my FoI request shows that, in the year to date, almost as much has been paid out in compensation as in the previous 4 years.
“If the County Council doesn’t start to address the potholes, I can see claims for compensation going even higher.”
LATEST | The intention now is to present the Dorset Avenue Resurface NOW1 petition to DCC Full Council at County Hall at 2.15 pm on 11/12/14
![Initial design drawing [Gale and Snowden]](https://cllrpaul4cowick.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/swim_4_64e0311d01acf47c.jpg)
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