Agenda item

The Lead Councillor for Environment introduced the item and provided a brief overview of the ninth contract year.  The Committee was advised that due to the pandemic the G Live venue was operational for less than six months of the contract year.  The Lead Councillor for Environment indicated that 2019-20 produced a surplus that resulted in almost £60k being returned to the Council.  He thanked the members of the overview and scrutiny G Live working group for their work and praised the role of G Live as a vaccination centre.

A member of the overview and scrutiny G Live working group, present at the meeting as a member of the Committee, confirmed that the venue appeared to be on for a record year until the pandemic hit.

A member of the Committee asked about the advisability of re-tendering the contract for running G Live during the pandemic and the other options available with the current contract with HQ Theatres Guildford Limited (HQT) expiring in 2021.  In reply, the Lead Councillor for Environment indicated that the existing contract could be extended by up to five years. 

In reply to a question, the Leisure Services Manager assured the meeting of the financial viability of HQT and indicated he had no current concerns for their cash flow or stability.

The Contracts Officer outlined the climate change implications of the report to the meeting.  She informed the Committee of past and future plastic-free initiatives at G Live and advised of the introduction of LED lighting.  With reference to a new contract for the operation of the venue, the meeting heard a suggestion that the Council be able to measure and monitor the environmental impact of the operator.  A member of the Committee suggested that once the coronavirus restrictions were lifted it would be worthwhile using the foyer and other areas of the venue to promote environmental impacts.

With reference to a new contract, the Lead Councillor for Environment suggested a prioritisation activity for events at G Live could be undertaken at an executive advisory board meeting.

A member of the Committee questioned the time it had taken HQT to develop G Live as a successful business.  In response, the Contracts Officer advised that establishing a new venue in the marketplace had been expected to take a number of years.  The Leisure Services Manager indicated that HQT had improved performance year on year and suggested the operator had exceeded expectations held at the outset of the contract period.

With reference to events at G Live that had been postponed due to the pandemic, the Committee heard that a high percentage of customers had either retained tickets or exchanged them for gift vouchers.

The Leisure Services Manager confirmed that the use of the venue as a vaccination site had been funded by COVID-19 recovery grants from Surrey County Council; there had been no cost to the venue or the NHS. 

In response to questions, the meeting heard from the Leisure Services Manager that a defect had been discovered with how fireproofing had been fixed under cladding on the building and that this was being was being progressed with the builder.  He advised that Surrey Fire and Rescue Service was aware of the matter and any actual evacuation of the venue should not be materially affected.

The Chairman thanked the Lead Councillor for Environment and officers for attending and answering questions.