Inside Salisbury: Chosen operator receives approval for the City Hall
Wiltshire City Council commits hundreds of thousands of pounds for exterior work on Salisbury City Hall
by Annette J Beveridge
THE reopening of a much-loved entertainment venue has now taken a step forward with Wiltshire Council finally approving its preferred operator to run the City Hall.
Although Wiltshire Council cannot as yet formally confirm the operator’s details due to commercial confidentiality, it is rumoured to be Meca in Swindon.
Wiltshire Council Cabinet approved £300,000 of funding to be used to improve the external fabric of the building to ‘demonstrate the council’s commitment to reopen the venue.’
Wiltshire Council Leader, Councillor Richard Clewer, said: “It’s always been our priority to open City Hall as a live entertainment venue in a long-term sustainable way without subsidy.
“I’m pleased we have now agreed a preferred operator and that we now look to agree formal terms. The process we have followed, and the necessary due diligence we have carried out, means that when the venue does reopen, then it has the best possible opportunity to thrive as an entertainment venue.”
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This work will be completed either in advance of the lease beginning or on a concurrent level with any occupier fit-out. The final cost of these works will be subject to a formal procurement process taking place. Currently, there are no set timescales but if the lease and terms are formally agreed, the operator has expressed its intention to reopen the venue later this year.
Cllr Clewer added: “Despite the local speculation of the preferred operator, it’s important we as a council continue to follow the proper process so we do not jeopardise any potential agreements, but all being well we should have some good news and formal confirmation very soon.”
The proposals were discussed at the Council’s Cabinet meeting today, (Tuesday, January 21) and the full report can be found at Agenda - Democratic Services - Wiltshire Council. Due to reasons of commercial confidentiality part of the report was discussed as a confidential Part II item.
