Plans drawn up to make the most of Spalding’s South Holland Centre - which needs investment after being allowed to ‘exist’ says cabinet member

Plans are being devised to make the most of a town theatre ‘without wasting tax payers money’, say council bosses.

Coun Henry Bingham says that the South Holland Centre in Spalding needs a ‘lot of money’ spending on the building after it has been allowed to just ‘exist’ for many years.

The South Holland District Council cabinet member said that plans are being drawn up to make the most of all areas of the Market Place building, including the upstairs function room.

But the Donington, Quadring and Gosberton member told the council’s Performance Monitoring Panel meeting that it was important that the authority gets value for money after warning of Government budget cuts.

Concerns had been raised previously about the centre’s finances - which is set to undergo renovation works in February - along with the lack of a clear five year business plan for the venue.

Coun Bingham told the meeting: “It needs a lot of money spent on it as a building to bring more opportunities. We need to look at it in a different way.

“The building worked when it was built and worked for many years after that but times change and people’s habits change and we need to make the most of the asset without wasting tax payers’ money.

“We need to deliver worthwhile entertainment and usage of that building which we are working towards. By April next year there will be a decent plan to go forward with the centre.”

He also told members that the theatre was an asset to the area and praised the current pantomime, Snow White, which he said was drawing people in.

Coun Bingham later said: “We have to be aware of budget cuts from central government and further budget cuts to come. According to Labour, rural areas are not in need, we need to make sure we give value for money and don’t just throw good money after bad and that is what we are working towards.

“We are working towards the approach of using more of the building and make use of the function hall upstairs. It has existed for many years and now we need to push it forward.

“Some of the decisions might not be popular and some of the changes that we might have to make. I will run by councillors because it is an important venue.”

Panel chairman Bryan Alcock is one of the councillors who have for some time been calling for a five year business plan along with greater clarity over the financial position.

He told Coun Bingham that the committee’s concern was not the live shows but getting more activities into the centre but again called for a business plan to explain the vision for the centre.

The Crowland councillor said he said he did not want to criticise the South Holland Centre but stressed that it needed to work in a ‘better way’.

Sutton Bridge councillor Chris Brewis suggested speaking to King’s Lynn Corn Exchange to find out what lessons could be learned while Coun Sam Chauhan questioned if money could be made from the pantomime programme.

Coun Laura Eldridge praised the South Holland Centre and its team.

She said: “I went to an event there and couldn’t fault it at all. The staff were welcoming and friendly.

“It is going to attract more people and it is going in the right direction.”

Coun Margaret Geaney said she wasn’t aware that the South Holland Centre showed films when she moved back to the area in 2019 - and called for greater advertising of the programme.

A spokesman for the district council says the boilers were replaced at the theatre along with reupholstering some of the seating.

She said: “There is a programme of works planned for lighting, flooring and redecoration, scheduled for February 2025 onwards in between the centre’s busy events programme.”

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