Purpose

To
propose an Expression of Interest and application to the Arts
Council England’s Creative Foundations Fund for investment in
new, energy efficient LED lighting for the Palace Theatre stage, to
futureproof this historic, grade II listed venue and support
improved sustainability in the long-term.
 

Decision

AGREED that
 

1.     
The Portfolio Holder approves the proposal to submit
an Expression of Interest in July and a full application in October
to the Creative Foundations Fund should the EoI be successful;
 

2.     
The Portfolio Holder approves a capital commitment
in principle of between £50,000 and £80,000 (that being
10% of the total cost of the project, for which 5% minimum is
required), dependant on the outcome of the application;
and
 

3.     
Should the application be successful, the Portfolio
Holder will recommend an increase to the capital programme for the
total cost of the project, estimated at between £500,000 and
£800,000 including the NSDC contribution as detailed above to
Cabinet for approval, together with formal approval for use of
reserves for the Council’s capital commitment.
 

Alternative options considered

The Palace Theatre has
been working on plans for a programme of smaller scale
interventions to convert its extensive lighting scheme to LED both
in the auditorium and on stage over time. A Management Carry
Forward request was approved in April to fund the upgrade of the
auditorium chandeliers; however the main
lighting rig remains the biggest intervention required to improve
our environmental responsibility, sustainability and
efficiency.
 
This work will become
essential at a point in the future as lamps become more difficult
to source and more costly to ship into the country, therefore it is
prudent to capitalise on applications that can support the cost of
this.