Agenda item

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report updates the Area Committee on the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) position at Romiley Forum.

The Area Committee is recommended to note the report, the ongoing work with Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) and NK Theatre Arts (NKTA), as well as the next steps.

Officer contact: James Kington at james.kington@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Area Committee on the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) position at Romiley Forum (the theatre).

The following comments were made/ issues raised: -

·         It was reported that the time frame for reopening the theatre was subject to a number of variables in terms of the required remedial work. For example, in the event that the entire roof required repair, a longer timescale was expected. Furthermore, structural engineers with expertise in RAAC were mainly being employed at schools and had limited availability to work on other buildings affected by RAAC. Another factor affecting the time frame would be the funding for the remedial works. A timeframe for decisions on what repairs would be made depended upon the funding on the package.

·         Members enquired about repair work on the roof of the theatre. In response, it was stated that both NK Theatre Arts and the council in its capacity as landlord would have liked to carry out repair work on the roof of the theatre in 2017, as there was additional weight in the ceiling from solar panels and equipment storage, but did not at that point have the budget so to do.

·         Work on the lower roof had been undertaken in 2017. The life span of the upper roof had expired. Recommendations had been made for both repairs and replacement. However, it was necessary to strike a balance between value for the tax-payer, opening the theatre as soon as possible, and long-term safety.

·         The bulk of the work required to reopen the theatre, being structural repairs, was the responsibility of the council. In previous years the council had made some improvements to the theatre, in accordance with its policy on capital investments, although due to budget constraints it was not possible to carry out a full programme of improvements.

·         In term of the council’s compliance with the guidance on RAAC at the theatre, it was stated that the council had complied with the guidance and that no action could have been taken to prevent the closure of theatre upon the issue of the Department for Education guidance in August 2023.

·         Following the discovery of RAAC at the theatre in 2017, a structural safety report related to RAAC had been produced 2019. Later a 2022 report had addressed the 30 year life span of RAAC. Members queried why, in those circumstances, no action had been taken by the council related to RAAC at the theatre prior to 2023. In response, it was stated that, at all times, the appropriate guidance had been followed.

·         Members asked about the differences in treating RAAC at the theatre compared to treating RAAC at other council owned buildings. In response, it was stated that the council was the sole occupier and owner of schools and libraries affected by RAAC whereas the theatre was a tenanted building where the council acted as the landlord.

·         In terms of the council’s role as landlord for the theatre, the contractual arrangements were described and it was confirmed that the council could extend the tenancy of NK Theatre Arts.

·         Talks were ongoing between the council and NK Theatre Arts about the group’s costs due to the closure of the theatre. The Assistant Director for Estates and Asset Management undertook to make efforts to reach an agreement with NK Theatre and to provide an update to the Area Committee.

·         Members enquired as to whether NK Theatre Arts could reopen the theatre. In response, as tenants, NK Theatre had the option to reopen the theatre.

·         It was reported that the search for an alternative venue for NK Theatre Arts within the council’s estate had found no suitable alternatives. The construction of a temporary space would be costly and that money might be better spent on the repairs to the theatre.

·         Members encouraged the council to work closely with NK Theatre Arts in relation to the reopening of the theatre.

·         In terms of support for local businesses in Romiley which had faced reduced footfall as a result of the theatre’s closure, it was stated that, whilst supporting businesses in Romiley was part of the council’s wider responsibility, it was outwith the remit of the council in its capacity as landlord of the theatre.

·         Members suggested that the council’s Town Manager could consider additional events within Romiley in order to increase foot traffic for businesses affected by the closure of the theatre.

·         Members stated that the council fully supported reopening the theatre as soon as possible, and had written to the Secretary of State to request a funding package similar to that which had been given to schools where RAAC had been discovered.

·         Members commented on the difference in the approach by Central Government to repairs for schools and other buildings where RAAC had been found. Members commented that more could be done by Central Government to address the closure of buildings due to RAAC, other than schools. One example of the difference in approach was that planning rules had been suspended for schools with RAAC, leading to repairs being carried out more quickly. This suspension of planning rules did not apply to theatres.

·         Members requested the Cabinet to be open minded in committing funding the reopening of Romiley Forum through means such as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and other government grants. It also recommended that the council should continue to seek further funding from Central Government.

·         Members expressed concern that the theatre, as an important cultural institution within the borough, had been closed during Stockport’s year as Town of Culture.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Cabinet be recommended to consider any and all funding measures to ensure that Romiley Forum could reopen as soon as possible, including the potential use of underspends in the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.