Off Topic Hull City Centre Public Realm Strategy

Three years to prepare for City of Culture.....!!!... paaaaah!!!! the Japanese wouldn't have started on Hull until the middle of November,

 

Anyone just seen the advert on tv for ELO at the KCOM??

They said K C O M Stadium not K COM. Sounds weird

 

They wont make any redundancies next year cos of COC. March /April 2018 there will be **** all left.

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/thin...n-first-year/story-29992021-detail/story.html
Financial problems have put a question mark over the future of a council-owned company running leisure in Hull.

Hull Culture and Leisure (HCAL) was set up in April last year. It now runs museums, libraries, leisure centres, parks and catering service along with venues such as the New Theatre, City Hall and Hull Arena on behalf of the council.

But the company's first year in business saw it incur losses of £2.7m. Although nearly £900,000 of that related to pension scheme losses beyond the control of the company, the year also saw a £438,000 shortfall in expected income and an overall overspend of £302,000.

Now council officials have asked HCAL bosses to come up with detailed proposals on how they intend to start balancing the books.That could prove tricky because the HCAL board - which is made up of councilors - has already ruled out reviewing opening times or changing staff terms and conditions as ways of saving money.


Speaking at a finance scrutiny meeting, the council's deputy chief executive Trish Dalby said: "We have asked HCAL's managing director to provide us with an updated business plan by the end of the calendar year."If the company is unable to fulfil that saving we would have to look at further options.

In its own minutes, the company is said to be seeking additional support from the council but the council does not have any additional funding to give.

"She said options over the company's future would not be examined until after the savings proposals had been received."I have been assured they will come back with deliverable proposals," she added.

Options could include bringing the service back in-house or outsourcing them to another operator. About 850 council staff transferred to the new company when it was set up last year. At the time, council leaders said the move was a way of saving money by exploiting special tax breaks for not-for-profit companies.

Speaking at the same scrutiny meeting, HCAL board director Councillor John Fareham admitted the company's accounts did not paint a healthy picture.

"It's not rocket science to say things aren't looking rosy," he said.

Under its contract with the council, HCAL receives income from the sale of food, drink and merchandise at venues while the council retains ticket sales revenue.

In July, HCAL chairman Councillor Terry Geraghty said the company's first trading year had been a difficult one.

"No one said the transition from local government to the company would be easy, neither does anyone underestimate the challenges to come," he said.

 

'Special tax breaks for not-for-profit companies' ?
Not as far as I'm aware...and I am involved with one...and if anything setting up a company means you can't claim VAT back on many things that the Council can?
Only worth doing if you want to bring in extra income other than the Council cash

 

My eyes are bleeding.

 

Looks ok actually, fitting tribute.

 

Is that a re-development of the old Teachers' Training College/Humberside University site?

 

The buildings look a bit dated in my opinion.

 

Was on Humber Street last night - still a few barriers but nearly done. Paving looks great (albeit it was after dark when I was there).

 

Would they be replacing The Lawns?

 

Looking at the picture there's plenty of grassed areas.