PAPER E

EDUCATION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND LIFELONG LEARNING SELECT COMMITTEE - TUESDAY, 28 JANUARY 2003

FUTURE OF RYDE AND SHANKLIN THEATRES

JOHN HOWE - CHAIRMAN OF THE THEATRES TASK GROUP

REASON FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

The Theatres Task Group was established by the Select Committee to undertake detailed consideration of theatre provision on the Island and in particular the management contract in respect of Ryde and Shanklin theatres. The Task Group has now considered the options available to the Council in respect of the contracts for Ryde and Shanklin theatres.

ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE

To advise the Executive that the existing contracts for the management of Ryde and Shanklin Theatres should not be renewed and tenders should be sought for the management of Shanklin Theatre only.

BACKGROUND

The Task Group met on 26 November and 4 December 2002. The meetings were attended by Mr J Howe, Mrs B Clough, Mr J Fleming, Mr C Richards and Mr H Adams. The first meeting involved a visit to both Ryde and Shanklin theatres to view at the facilities at first hand and discuss the operation of these with the respective managers. Members were accompanied by Maria Wilkinson , the Council’s Arts Development Officer. The second meeting involved a wide ranging discussion on the options available and was attended by the Head of Community Development and Tourism, John Metcalfe.

With regard to Ryde Theatre the Task Group considered that this was a very poor theatre facility. Whilst it appears to look respectable it lacks atmosphere and does not have the backstage facilities to enable the delivery of a flexible programme. The programme offered is rather limited but it is appreciated that the contractors have to ensure events break even due to the budget available for its operation. It is used almost exclusively by Island people. Ryde has a capacity of 500 people.

Shanklin Theatre is better in terms of facilities but requires modernisation. It generally operated to support the tourist market, particularly coach parties and schools visiting the Island. Like Ryde it offers a limited programme due to funding arrangements. Shanklin has a capacity of 762 people.

The other theatres on the Island, and their respective capacity, are at Medina (425); Trinity Theatre, Cowes (249); Apollo, Newport (130); Quay Arts; Newport (115), Memorial Hall, Freshwater (210); Margaret Passmore, Shanklin (360) and Winter Gardens, Ventnor (700). There are also a number of church premises and village halls used for performances together with school facilities. It was noted that at present there are no established links between theatre providers on the Island so there is little or no co-ordination on productions, dates, marketing or theatre development between these.

The links between schools and theatres was considered by the Task Group. Steps have been taken by the contractors at both Ryde and Shanklin to encourage the use of their respective facilities by educational groups. This was an area where members believed more work was required.

In considering the range of options associated with the continuation of the existing contract, or the seeking of new tenders, for either or both facilities members were keen that instead of being seen as a cost cutting exercise any savings resulting from contractual changes should be utilised for the development of arts on the Island in accordance with the approved strategy..

The closure of both facilities was discounted on the basis of the need for the Council to retain an influence over theatre provision. The retention of both was also discounted as this would not lead to any improvement in service delivery due to budget constraints. Also as both facilities required improvement works capital funding was unlikely to be available in the foreseeable future.

The Task Group therefore considered that Shanklin Theatre offered the best opportunity to meet the overall theatre need on the Island. Although not directly within its remit the Task Group was made aware by the Head of Community Development and Tourism that some preliminary investigations were taking place on the utilisation of Ryde Town Hall, including the area currently used as the theatre, for alternative community use. This could be funded through monies available from the SRB.

Consideration was then given to the option of placing the management of Shanklin Theatre out to tender to operate on a similar basis to that at present or bringing the management in house. Existing staff would become Council employees under TUPE arrangements. The existing budget could then be redistributed to enable a Theatre Development Officer to be appointed. The post holder would be responsible for the development of Shanklin theatre, form links with schools and co-ordinate theatre activities across the Island. It was noted that better access to high quality touring theatres could also be funded by the reallocation of the existing budget.

The Task Group agreed that both contractors should be advised that the existing contracts for the management of both theatres would not be renewed at the end of their current term. The Task Group was only marginally in favour of seeking tenders for the management of Shanklin Theatre for a minimum period of 5 years against the alternative of bringing the management in-house.

RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

The Arts Strategy for the Isle of Wight 2002 - 2007 sets out the Council’s aspirations for arts development on the Island. This was adopted in July 2001 and followed a local consultation exercise which was supported by Southern Arts.

A number of performance indicators were reported to the Select Committee at its meeting on 29 August 2002. The Best Value Performance Indicator 1119 relating to the percentage of residents satisfied with theatres and concert halls indicated an actual performance of 56% in 2000/01. The benchmarks for all English Unitary Councils gave a median of 58% with the upper quartile of 67% and lower quartile of 51%. For all English Councils the figures were median 51%, upper 60% and lower 41%.

CONSULTATION PROCESS

The Task Group has not involved any other stakeholders in its deliberations.

FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS

The revenue investment in these two theatres totals £210.500pa. The remaining Arts budget amounts to £153,000 which includes the salary of the Arts Development Officer, funding to Quay Arts, Platform One, Southern Arts and IW Symphony Orchestra. These funding arrangements total £129,400, leaving £23,590 to deliver all other arts activity.

It is important to realise however that closing either or both these facilities would not result in saving the total £210,500. A large proportion of this amount relates to building maintenance and insurance costs. The immediate savings would only be £84,000 for Shanklin and £60,000 for Ryde. These amounts relate to the management contracts for the buildings.

The existing management contracts for both theatres expire in December 2003. The contract for Ryde was extended in 2000 so that it terminated at the same time as the Shanklin contract. Originally these contracts were with the respective Borough Councils.

There are no apparent crime and disorder implications connected with this area of activity.

BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT

Arts Strategy for the Isle of Wight 2001 -2007

Details from the original contracts relating to Ryde and Shanklin Theatres

Education, Community Development and Lifelong Learning Select Committee agenda and minutes of the meetings held on 12 August 2002 and 29 August 2002.

Contact Point : Paul Thistlewood, ☎ 823285 e-mail [email protected]

JOHN HOWE

Chairman of the Theatres Task Group