05 July 2009Sevenoaks District Council last night (Tuesday 11 November 2008) agreed to transfer the Stag arts complex to Sevenoaks Town Council as part of a long term lease agreement.
After Kino Holdings Ltd ceased operation of the Stag on 8 July 2008, the District Council received two proposals from local authorities, one from Kent County Council and the other from Sevenoaks Town Council, to operate the facility. On 28 August, the District Council agreed a set of criteria to assess the two proposals and gave the councils until the end of September to submit detailed plans to operate the Stag.
Following careful evaluation of the proposals, Full Council decided to hand over the Stag to Sevenoaks Town Council on a 25 year lease. Initially Sevenoaks District Council will enter into a short term lease allowing the Stag to open early in the new year. The long term lease will be agreed thereafter.
Sevenoaks Town Council submitted a detailed proposal and business plan to operate the Stag that includes setting up an independent charity to manage the complex based on the successful model used by East Grinstead Town Council to run the Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre. The current facilities would be retained and no significant building works would be necessary, minimising disruption to the arts community.
The Town Council has said that it is looking at the possibility of relocating its Tourist Information Centre within the Stag.
Sevenoaks District Council would pay the Town Council a grant of £100,000 a year for the first five years of the lease agreement, £50,000 towards the running of the theatre and £50,000 towards youth outreach provision.
Cllr Elaine Bracken, the Council's Cabinet member with responsibility for the arts, says: "Sevenoaks Town Council has put forward a detailed proposal and business plan to reopen the Stag early in 2009, which is great news for the local arts community and for Sevenoaks. They have a vision for a vibrant community facility, but I would stress, if it is to succeed, the whole community will need to give its backing and support to the theatre and cinema programme to ensure it remains viable in the years to come."
