Agenda item

(a)  That the business planning and option review executive summary appended to the report be noted,

(b)  That it be agreed that the £50,000 budget approved by Cabinet in June would be repurposed to progress feasibility studies and option appraisals associated with existing Slough Borough Council assets that have potential for enhanced cultural utility,

(c)  That it be agreed that retaining circa a sixth of the North West Quadrant site for a large cultural building was not a financial priority for the Council at this present time and officers should seek to achieve more with less through an activity led cultural investment strategy focussed on existing SBC assets; and

(d)  That it be agreed that the incorporation of Higher Education space and an innovation hub were still strategic priorities and that officers should seek their inclusion within the larger development project being promoted by North West Quadrant LLP which will now comprise the whole of the North West Quadrant site.

At the meeting on 15th June 2020 the Cabinet had approved the vision for the Heart of Slough North West Quadrant site and agreed that a masterplan should be progressed.  A further report was considered that provided an update on the proposed community site and the cultural infrastructure strategy.

This strategy proposed an activity led, dispersed infrastructure model which invested in Council assets such as the Adelphi Theatre and The Venue @ The Curve rather than major capital investment in a new building on the site.  The options appraisal indicated that such a facility would cost between £80m to £135m at a time when the authority faced financial pressures.  It was recommended that an activity based approach that maximised existing assets and public space in the North West Quadrant was likely to achieve greater social outcomes with more modest investment.

It was noted that the report stated that the developers of Slough Central were also considering the creation of a cultural quarter to the rear of The Curve.  The Officer informed the Cabinet of a statement from the developers that clarified that their proposals were at an early stage, would be subject to discussion and full business case review and that a cultural quarter may not come forward in the Slough Central scheme.

The Cabinet agreed that a dispersed strategy was the best approach as it would maximise the Adelphi and The Curve and encourage related leisure and cultural opportunities in the corridors between these facilities and wider town centre.  The recommendations were agreed.

Resolved –

(a)  That the business planning and option review executive summary appended to the report be noted,

(b)  That it be agreed that the £50,000 budget approved by Cabinet in June would be repurposed to progress feasibility studies and option appraisals associated with existing Slough Borough Council assets that have potential for enhanced cultural utility,

(c)  That it be agreed that retaining circa a sixth of the North West Quadrant site for a large cultural building was not a financial priority for the Council at this present time and officers should seek to achieve more with less through an activity led cultural investment strategy focussed on existing SBC assets; and

(d)  That it be agreed that the incorporation of Higher Education space and an innovation hub were still strategic priorities and that officers should seek their inclusion within the larger development project being promoted by North West Quadrant LLP which will now comprise the whole of the North West Quadrant site.