A WORCESTER theatre is hoping councillors will agree to a new 99-year lease, allowing it to stay open for business.
Councillors are being asked to agree on the peppercorn lease of The Swan Theatre, meaning it would only pay £1 a year to stay open in the Worcester City Council owned building.
The Council’s policy and resources committee will meet on July, 30 where the proposed lease will be discussed.
Sarah-Jane Morgan, chief executive of Worcester Theatres, said: “Worcester Theatres are very excited by the prospect of having a 99-year lease on the Swan Theatre.
“It would allow us to feel a real security for our charity, support our ambitions for the long-term plans of the building and enable us to appeal for more funding, aiding us to continue to deliver a wide and diverse programme of events and participation activities for our audiences and continue to support the cultural provision for Worcester far into the future.”
Coun Lynn Denham, leader of the city council added: “Worcester Theatres do a fantastic job of running a great programme of arts and entertainment at the Swan Theatre.
“They have been providing fun for all the family and supporting community drama for many decades.
“This new lease will give them a long-term future at the Swan and shows the City Council’s commitment to Worcester Theatres.
“I hope the committee will support it.”
The committee will be asked to approve a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) of the theatre in exchange for a 99-year annual peppercorn rent of £1.
The previous long-term lease on the building ran out in 2017 and the building has since been used on the basis of a ‘tenancy at will’, which has been renewed on an ad hoc basis.
