Issue - meetings

Ewell Court House

Meeting: 20/06/2019 - Community and Wellbeing Committee (Item 5)

This report sets out the action taken by the Council in recent months to increase bookings at Ewell Court House as part of the Council’s agreed approach to enterprise and income generation. This approach aims to make discretionary Council activities more financially sustainable, ensuring that valued services continue to be available in both the short and longer term. Although the actions taken by the Council to date have led to some improvements in bookings, this has not been at a level needed to make the venue financially sustainable.

This report explores the opportunity and potential benefits from entering into a partnership with a specialist from the wedding and events sector to maximise the public and community use of this important and treasured building and recommends a way forward.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration, it was resolved:

(1) To recommend to the Strategy and Resources Committee that the Council seek to enter into a partnership agreement with a specialist wedding venue company to increase bookings at Ewell Court House and put the building on a more sustainable footing.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report seeking approval for the Council to enter into a partnership agreement with a specialist wedding venue company with the aim of increasing bookings at Ewell Court House and put the building on a more sustainable footing.

It was noted that despite a targeted marketing campaign Ewell Court House had not reached income targets and Members appraised three options for the future management of the venue in terms of potential financial implications and risk.

The Committee reiterated the importance of ensuring that any partnership agreement would include a commitment to maintain bookings for community events.

Following consideration, it was resolved: