News ERL Committee considers future of Hazlitt Theatre

Maidstone Borough Council’s Economic Regeneration and Leisure (ERL), Committee met last evening when the options for the future sustainability of the Hazlitt Arts Centre were considered.

The ERL Committee looked at the fully remodelled business forecasts prepared by the Council and its contractor Parkwood Leisure for the Hazlitt Arts Centre.  As a result of the meeting the Committee agreed three recommendations which were:

1. The Council will continue to pay its agreed contract fee to Parkwood Leisure for the provision of services at the Hazlitt Arts Centre
2. MBC Officers will continue to monitor Parkwood Leisure’s performance with respect to the delivery of the requirements of the Hazlitt Arts Centre Services contract as defined by the Key Performance Indicators and make further recommendations in April 2021
3. MBC Officers prioritise the continuity and capability of the Hazlitt Arts Centre operation and work to ensure, whilst working with all key partners, that the Hazlitt returns to life as and when Covid-19 allows it to do so

Cllr Paul Harper, Chair of the ERL Committee said:

“We realise that the continuing Covid-19 restrictions have left a lot of uncertainly for the future for all of us and this is a changing picture since the future of the Hazlitt was first considered in November 2020, we are a lot further on since then.

“However with restrictions still in place, the Council has agreed to monitor and review the situation again in three months.  In the meantime, MBC will continue to work with Parkwood Leisure to support their successful reopening of the Hazlitt Arts Centre."

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