People in Haverhill now have local control of the Haverhill Town Hall Arts Centre following the official transfer on Friday (1 August).
St Edmundsbury Cabinet member for Arts and Culture, Cllr Andrew Varley, said:
"This is a major achievement by all concerned which will see an excellent facility being run for the benefit of the people in Haverhill by the people of Haverhill - reflecting the true spirit in which this charity was set up. St Edmundsbury is proud of its association with this much-loved and well-used arts centre and I know our partnership will see a wide range of art and entertainment being provided in the future. I wish the new trustees well and I hope people in and around Haverhill will continue with their enthusiastic support of this valued centre."
The Haverhill Town Hall Charity came into control of the Urban District Council in 1895 and it was taken over by the Borough Council when local government was reorganised in 1974. Following consultation with Haverhill Town Council over a number of years, St Edmundsbury Borough Council took the decision on 26 February 2004, as trustees of the Town Hall Arts Centre charity to transfer it to the town council, who are now its trustees. The transfer includes the town hall building and its management.
Haverhill Town Mayor Tim Marks said:
‘We are very pleased that the management of Haverhill Town Hall Arts Centre is now transferred to Haverhill Town Council acting as trustees for the residents of Haverhill, for whom the Town Hall was originally donated by the Gurteen Family in 1883. We are very fortunate to have this facility and I am sure it will continue to provide a wide variety of high quality entertainment under the new management".
The formal transfer involved representatives of St Edmundsbury Borough and Haverhill Town Councils signing the relevant documents. All but two of St Edmundsbury's staff working at the Arts Centre transferred to the Town Council's employment from that date. The Town Council has been operating the Arts Centre for 15 months.
Until the transfer, the Arts Centre has been funded by St Edmundsbury. Now the borough council is grant aiding the trust, through the town council. At the transfer a grant of £100,000 has been paid, with a further balance due later in the year.
Haverhill Town Council Clerk Gordon Mussett said:
"Haverhill Town Council looks forward to a future of partnership working with St Edmundsbury Borough Council, whose grant aid supports the Arts Centre, and without whose vision in 1994 the venue would not have been refurbished to provide these facilities."
ENDS
ISSUED BY MARIANNE HULLAND, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757034. marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
