Agenda item

To view a presentation on the five-year business plan for Keats House.

The Committee heard an update from the Assistant Director Culture and Projects on the five-year business plan, noting that:

-        The CoLC Chief Town Clerk is encouraging a move to a cycle of 5-year business plans with Environment Department being one of the first Departments to lead on that; and

-        Plans for KH include garden refurbishment, partnership development, volunteering initiatives, and further digitalisation (all to be mapped out in greater detail).

A Member asked whether the substantial investments needed for the building would be incorporated into that five-year plan. The meeting noted that the conservation management plan will set out the needs of the Ten Keats Grove site and that some spend is planned for urgent reactive works ahead of that plan being drawn up to inform the five-year plan in the form of a carefully costed plan and the outcomes for the CoLC. 

A Member noted that there is merit in exploring Arts Council England funds as a joint project for the whole site.

A Member asked for the envelope figure to cover a major reinterpretation of the site. The meeting heard that the figure is expected to be a £1M+ project, some of which may be internally funded where it concerns building fabric.