In partnership with Brentwood Borough Council, Essex County Council was keen to develop affordable studio exhibition space in central Brentwood, utilising a retail unit in the Baytree Centre, which had been empty for 5 years. 

It was proposed to commission an arts organisation and registered charity, ACAVA (Association for Cultural Advancement through Visual Art) to undertake a feasibility study to ascertain local demand for the project, the suitability of the identified unit for a temporary lease for a minimum of 2 years,  and to devise a financial and membership model for the studios.

Members thanked Lindsey Strange of Essex County Council, and Duncan Smith of ACAVA for their presentations.  The feasibility study by Duncan Smith would be presented to the Committee in the February/March 2015 meeting.     

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Kendall and SECONDED by Cllr Sapwell to receive the recommendations in the report.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

2.1To note the presentations and agree to commission ACAVA to undertake the feasibility study, which will ascertain local demand for the project, the suitability of the identified unit for a temporary lease for a minimum of 2 years and devise a financial and membership model for the studios, allocating £1000 from the Economic Development Fund to do so as matched funding.

2.2For a further report to come back to Business and Town Centres Committee with the results and recommendations of the feasibility study. 

 (Cllr Reed declared a non-pecuniary interest by virtue of having worked with Lindsey Strange in the past).