The Chair to advise the Committee of any items on which members of the public have requested to speak and advise those members of the public present of the details of the Council’s public participation scheme.
For those members of the public who have submitted any questions or statements, please note, a three minute time limit applies to each speaker and you will be asked to speak before Councillors debate the issue.
Minutes:
(a) Mr Jefferson Horsley asked the following questions:
(i) Could you please clarify for me how you reconcile the twin objectives of the ruling group of a) promoting SW and T's policy goal of "Talk Up Taunton" as the County Town which we all aspire to on the one hand and b) making Taunton the centre of research for reducing the world's dependence on plastic based products which are doing so much harm to the world as witnessed by David Attenborough's Blue Planet series?
(ii) Can you confirm for me that priority will be given at all times to meeting the latter target combined with a reduction in carbon emissions and the burning of fossil fuels and the increased usage of renewable energy sources in line with the Climate Emergency Motion unanimously passed on 21 February this year by the Shadow Council prior to the establishment of this Council?
(iii) Do you agree that this gives rise to a possible "win-win" for the ruling group if Taunton gets recognition for its role in both fields as the economic goals for the town can be largely shaped by its vision and leadership on tackling the detrimental aspects of plastic based products? This should become a unique selling point for the council with worldwide recognition of the work already pioneered over the past 4 years by the previous Council.
(iv) The marvellous programme of Somerfest at the weekend in Goodland Gardens and Castle Green was highly successfully in bringing in visitors to the town centre to witness music, entertainment and food which I also enjoyed with all and sundry. Why however does it have to use 10,000 plastic ducks - which even if they are all retrieved - when it is rather outdated - and why couldn't they have asked contributors and sponsors to have suggested that the public produce their own ducks out of recyclable cardboard or even paper ones to engender the spirit of separation and reducing waste? (It was interesting to note that the Extinction Rebellion Stall in Goodland Gardens attracted a lot of interest for curious members of the public about the same issue of the future of the planet?)
The Leader of the Council thanked Mr Horsley for his questions and for providing them in advance. We as a Council and certainly as an Executive looked to be able to both ‘Talk up Taunton’ and also look at what is best for the wider District and the County Town. The environmental agenda was at the top in terms of the new administrations priorities and she had seconded the motion on the Climate Emergency. Everything that we hoped to achieve would have the environment running through it as a thread as paramount. Somerfest was a brilliant event which she had attended, and would be willing to raise the issue of Plastic Ducks, but personally felt that as these had already been purchased they should be continued to be used in the short-term rather than wasted.
(b) Ms Vanessa Lefrancois made the following statement on behalf of the Taunton Theatre Association in relation to Agenda Item 9 – Firepool Regeneration;
Taunton Theatre Association, the charity and operator of The Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre in Taunton, welcomes the new Council’s intention to make the regeneration of Firepool, put forward by the Head of Commercial Investment, one of their main priorities. It is in the interests of all of us to see this large area brought into productive use once again. We wish to comment specifically on those aspects that relate to a performance venue and cinema, proposed for Block 4 & 5 respectively.
We note the proposal to appoint ‘an expert in the field’ to review the market for a ‘multi-functional’ performance space and wish to draw the new Council’s attention to feasibility studies, out-line designs, costings and business cases commissioned over the past decade, from leading architects, consultants and theatre specialists along with the resources expended on this work. As the Operator of the major performing arts centre in the town, TTA has been involved in studies carried out since 2015, mindful of the need to ensure such a development is sustainable in operational terms. Acting on these studies, the former Council commissioned award-winning architects, MICA and internationally acclaimed theatre specialists Sound, Space Vison (Sep. 2018) to work alongside TTA to realise the best possible multi-purpose cultural centre to meet the needs of the region’s expanding population.
The design team successfully delivered RIBA Stage 1 in spring 2019. This plan resonates with the Liberal Democrats Manifesto to deliver a ‘multi-purpose entertainment venue/cinema’ and comprises the elements outlined in the Regeneration of Firepool document. Plans incorporate a tiered auditorium (750 capacity), studio theatre, cinema, gallery, studios and workshop spaces, a digital hub and public areas. It also options the inclusion of another Taunton-based cultural centre to be incorporated into the site, creating a unique cultural hub, in the heart of the town. The flexible design will enable TTA to scale-up conferences and events, housed in a beautifully designed, centrally located, complex.
Whilst we realise audience figures in your paper may be illustrative, we emphasise no study recommended a large-scale venue for Taunton with tens of thousands of seats. As will be known, even in Bristol with a much larger population, this has proved very difficult. TTA, however, has developed a vibrant, diverse arts and cultural offer, delivering over 1,000 events a year, comprising live performance, cinema, activities and exhibitions attended by 71,000 people annually. It is a model that is recognised as exemplary by the Arts Council and praised by many visitors including successive Secretaries of State for the Arts. MICA’s design builds on TTA’s achievements and when realised, in its entirety, will create a major regional cultural centre. It will demonstrate an innovative and holistic approach which is cost effective to operate and realises maximum cultural, social and economic return. It will boost Taunton’s day and night-time economy and act as a catalyst for public and private inward investment, as evidenced in like projects nationally. TTA’s CE has engaged with Trusts & Foundations who would welcome capital bids from us.
Its location is a matter for the Council but, as the principal arts operator in Taunton, TTA has expertise to contribute to this debate and is committed to finding the best solution. We respectfully ask the Council to consult with us at the earliest opportunity, as proposals outlined in your paper will inevitably impact on the existing Brewhouse development project and TTA’s business plans.
Councillor Benet Allen thanked Ms Lefrancois for her statement and for coming along to describe the plans for the Brewhouse Theatre. On behalf of the Council he looked forward to meeting with you in due course and finding out more about the redevelopment plans.