Council to cut Hafren funding

Powys County Council is to reduce its funding and commitment to Newtown's The Hafren (formerly known as Theatr Hafren) as part of its cost-cutting drive.

But the cuts are not as bad as first proposed and there are signs that more investment will be made in the entertainment venue from other sources if a new company is formed to run it.

The council's cabinet yesterday agreed to cut the funding to four theatres in Powys, including The Hafren which will see savings in its budget from the council of £91,468 in the 2016/2017 budget and £127,303 by 2018/2019.

This will mean council savings of £48,825 being made at The Hafren in 2016/2017 and a total of £69,750 by the end of 2018/2019.

The theatre is operated and managed by the NPTC Group on behalf of the council and employs 8.5 full time equivalent staff.

A report to the council's cabinet states that the college and the theatre still have ambitious plans for the entertainment venue which includes £3m ring-fenced by the Arts Council of Wales for the scheme.

In 2011/2012 Powys County Council contributed £900,000 to the revamp of the theatre which included addressing urgent health and safety issues relating to the theatre's fly tower.

The report to councillors suggests a new not-for-profit type company could be set up to run the theatre, attracting more funding from other sources. The current management committee is made up of representatives of the council, NPTC Group and Newtown Town Council.

The development plans recognise that it may be necessary to create a new management company and to transfer ownership of fixtures and fittings from the Council to the new company.

It would also entail a new management agreement between NPTC Group and new company, potentially resulting in a stronger independent organisational status and management structure which would benefit the operation by providing a more robust mechanism for governance and accountability.

The report states: "The development plans recognise that it may be necessary to create a new management company and to transfer ownership of fixtures and fittings from the Council to the new company.

" It would also entail a new management agreement between NPTC Group and new company, potentially resulting in a stronger independent organisational status and management structure which would benefit the operation by providing a more robust mechanism for governance and accountability.

"The development plans recognise that it may be necessary to create a new management company and to transfer ownership of fixtures and fittings from the Council to the new company.

"It would also entail a new management agreement between NPTC Group and new company, potentially resulting in a stronger independent organisational status and management structure which would benefit the operation by providing a more robust mechanism for governance and accountability.

"An independent charitable status would also enable a wider range of funding sources to be more readily and easily accessed."

It adds: "By bringing the organisation structurally in line with other independent arts organisations in Wales, which are managed by a Board of Trustee Directors, Hafren would profit from a wide range of skills, experience and knowledge available from professionals taking on Trustee roles in taking the business forward successfully."