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To allocate the remaining E17 funding
(£28,000) to the Princes Theatre and associated areas
including Essex Hall Bar, for a range of upgrades to improve its
appearance, functionality, and future-proof its facilities.

Reasons for the decision

This Decision has been agreed via the three
Decisionmakers listed above; two confirmed via email and one via
telephone conversation on 3rd Feb 2025.
Princes Theatre is a strong asset in the local visitor economy, for
residents and visitors from further afield alike; staging/hosting
circa 150 shows, conferences, weddings, and other events per
year.
Work has already been undertaken to the dressing rooms, plant room
(off the bar area), and the décor of the main Auditorium to
improve functionality and appearance; funded via the ticket booking
admin fees.
It is proposed to support further works as follows with the total
amount capped at £28,000 and to be completed in their
entirety by the UKSPF deadline of 31st March 2025.
Furthermore, the current lighting desk in the Theatre is reaching
the end of its current life and will be in need of replacement in
the near future. The lighting desk is used to control all the
lights in a theatre used in a show, as well as controlling effects,
and can be programmed to repeat actions and store them in a memory
so that large shows such as pantomime are not only achievable but
can be delivered to the same high quality every time. This is an
integral part of the theatre’s technical equipment and the
current one is near the end of its shelf life, and with the advent
of newer technology in lighting fixtures it will result in becoming
obsolete in the near future.
Specifics as to the procurement process undertaken thus far can be
found in the attached Executive Decision Form.

Alternative options considered

The UKSPF underspend must be spent and
delivered in full by 31st March 2025, or else be returned to
Central Government; there is no option to carry forward as this
financial year is the end of the current programme.
This capital funding has been made available to other projects
across the Council, and via Open Call to external organisations in
2024, but no suitable projects have come forward.
These improvements to the Princes Theatre represent an opportunity
to future-proof the service and facilities on offer as well as
meeting the objectives of UKSPF intervention E17, which aims to
deliver improvements to the local visitor economy.