Issue - meetings

Report of Strategic Director Environment and Community

Summary

To consider proposals for the development of a Banbury Cultural Quarter in conjunction with The Mill Management Committee and Oxfordshire County Council.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended to:

(1)               Support the concept of a Cultural Quarter in Banbury to the east of the Oxford Canal as outlined in the report;

(2)               Support OxfordshireCounty Council in the development of an integrated new library and Mill as outlined in the report;

(3)               Agree a supplementary capital estimate of £60,000 to progress the Cultural Quarter components to the level of detail required and to submit an outline planning application;

(4)               Receive further reports on the further design work, outline capital costs and anticipated revenue implications of progressing the District Council’s components of the Cultural Quarter prior to any commitment.

Agreed, subject to the amendment of recommendation 3 below:

“To agree a supplementary capital estimate of £60,000 to progress the Cultural Quarter components to the level of detail required and to submit an outline planning application; subject to County Council agreeing to fund the new library and Mill Arts Centre refurbishment.”

The Strategic Director Environment and Community submitted a report to consider proposals for the development of a Banbury Cultural Quarter in conjunction with The Mill Management Committee and Oxfordshire County Council.

Resolved

(1)               That the concept of a Cultural Quarter in Banbury to the east of the Oxford Canal be supported as outlined in the report;

(2)               That Oxfordshire County Council be supported in the development of an integrated new library and Mill as outlined in the report;

(3)               That a supplementary capital estimate of £60,000 to progress the Cultural Quarter components to the level of detail required be agreed and that an outline planning application be submitted subject to the County Council agreeing to fund the new library and Mill Arts Centre refurbishment;

(4)               That the Executive receive further reports on the further design work, outline capital costs and anticipated revenue implications of progressing the District Council’s components of the Cultural Quarter prior to any commitment.

Reasons –The District Council has been discussing for many months with representatives from The Mill Management Committee and Oxfordshire County Council the concept of a Cultural Quarter. The point has been reached in the development of the concept where formal consideration needs to be given by each of the partners.

Options