Extract From The Draft Minutes Of An Extraordinary Meeting Of The Finance And Strategy Committee (Auckland City Council) Held On Tuesday, 12 February 2008 At 9:30am.Extract From The Draft Minutes Of An Extraordinary Meeting Of The Finance And Strategy Committee (Auckland City Council) Held On Tuesday, 12 February 2008 At 9:30am.4. Q THEATRE PROJECT UPDATE
The Chairman moved:
A. That it be a recommendation to Combined Committees that the implementation of 13(ii)(A) and (B) of the resolution passed on 20 September 2007 (below) be delayed excluding the release of up to $200,000 to be used to fund a resource consent for the proposed theatre to facilitate the application to proceed for central government funding:
13 (ii) New Theatre Initiative / Q Theatre
A That Q Theatre be authorised to drawdown a further $700,000 against the approved capital grant of $4.6 million for the specific purpose of advancing design work and obtaining building consents, and that the Heads of Agreement be varied accordingly to record this variation to the contract.
B That council further fund the Q theatre project to the extent of $4.6 million in the 2008/2009 financial year provided that, to ensure value for money, the venue can and will meet some of the needs of Auckland Theatre Company.
B. That it be noted, in the event of central government funding not being available by the end of July 2008, it is unlikely that the Q Theatre project, with its increased costs will continue and that the Q Theatre acknowledges its requirement to fund any difference between Council's contribution of $9.2 million and the eventual project cost.
C. That in light of the significant increase in costs, and the issues raised around theatre priorities to meet wider theatre user needs, there is a need to reconsider the best value for investment Auckland City Council could make for the theatre industry as a whole.
D. That the current budget provision and the site set aside for the Q Theatre development be retained for theatre facilities and a final decision made:
(i) when an update of the venues research is completed to check the priority for any new theatre given new issues have arisen since this was last updated;
(ii) noted there is general agreement among most stakeholders (users and venue providers) on the priority for new theatre facilities;
(iii) noted there is greater certainty that the investment provides sufficient value given that council will fund one theatre only at this time.
Councillor Northey moved the following amendment:
A. That it be a recommendation to Combined Committees that the implementation of 13(ii)(A) and (B) of the resolution passed on 20 September 2007 (below) be delayed excluding the release of $200,000 to be used to fund a resource consent for the proposed theatre to facilitate the application to proceed for central government funding and that the remaining $500,000 drawdown be released after the March 2008 Combined Committees meeting unless that meeting resolves otherwise.
B. That it be noted that in the event of central government funding not being available, it is unlikely that the Q Theatre project, with its increased costs will continue.
C. That:
(i) the current budget provision and the site set aside for the Q Theatre development be retained for facilities there;
(ii) it be noted that the proposed investment provides sufficient value;
(iii) Council will fund only one theatre capital project at this time.
D. That officers be requested to report to the June 2008 Combined Committees meeting on whether, and to what extent, the proposed capital grant and the proposed annual operating grant for the Q Theatre should be increased, taking into account the views of users, venue providers and other interested parties.
A division was called for, voting on which was as follows:
For the Amendment: Against the Amendment:
Cr Leila BoyleCr Dr Cathy CaseyCr Bill ChristianCr Mark DonnellyCr Graeme EasteCr Glenda FryerCr Richard NortheyCr Denise Roche Cr Doug ArmstrongCr Ken BaguleyCr Aaron BhatnagarCr Paul GoldsmithDeputy Mayor David HayCr Peseta Sam Lotu-IigaCr Toni MillarCr Greg MoyleCr Graeme MulhollandCr Noelene RaffillsHis Worship the Mayor
The amendment was declared LOST by 11 votes to 8.
The Chairman put the following substantive motion:
A. That it be a recommendation to Combined Committees that the implementation of 13(ii)(A) and (B) of the resolution passed on 20 September 2007 (below) be delayed excluding the release of up to $200,000 to be used to fund a resource consent for the proposed theatre to facilitate the application to proceed for central government funding:
13 (ii) New Theatre Initiative / Q Theatre
A That Q Theatre be authorised to drawdown a further $700,000 against the approved capital grant of $4.6 million for the specific purpose of advancing design work and obtaining building consents, and that the Heads of Agreement be varied accordingly to record this variation to the contract.
B That council further fund the Q theatre project to the extent of $4.6 million in the 2008/2009 financial year provided that, to ensure value for money, the venue can and will meet some of the needs of Auckland Theatre Company.
B. That it be noted, in the event of central government funding not being available by the end of July 2008, it is unlikely that the Q Theatre project, with its increased costs will continue and that the Q Theatre acknowledges its requirement to fund any difference between Council's contribution of $9.2 million and the eventual project cost.
C. That in light of the significant increase in costs, and the issues raised around theatre priorities to meet wider theatre user needs, there is a need to reconsider the best value for investment Auckland City Council could make for the theatre industry as a whole.
D. That the current budget provision and the site set aside for the Q Theatre development be retained for theatre facilities and a final decision made:
(i) when an update of the venues research is completed to check the priority for any new theatre given new issues have arisen since this was last updated;
(ii) noting there is general agreement among most stakeholders (users and venue providers) on the priority for new theatre facilities;
(iii) noting there is greater certainty that the investment provides sufficient value given that council will fund one theatre only at this time.
A show of hands was called for and the amendment was declared CARRIED unanimously by 19 votes to 0.