Peter Stewart

Now, we already know that the council's been talking to the main leaseholder, Aviva Life and Pensions, to work out where each of their responsibilities start and end, and so who's going to be paying for what. And we already know £1.7 million was already put aside for improvements to the Harlequin anyway.

Now, we already know that the council's been talking to the main leaseholder, Aviva Life and Pensions, to work out where each of their responsibilities start and end, and so who's going to be paying for what. And we already know £1.7 million was already put aside for improvements to the Harlequin anyway.

And I've also heard that the council may try and get money from other places like the Arts Council to help with the changes and the refurbishment and the repairs. And why does all this work have to be done? Well, the council can't get public liability insurance while the rack is still in situ.

And I've also heard that the council may try and get money from other places like the Arts Council to help with the changes and the refurbishment and the repairs. And why does all this work have to be done? Well, the council can't get public liability insurance while the rack is still in situ.

Now, a reminder that the council says it is keen to continue providing arts in the borough and that the theatre has been closed since September 2023. OK, so let's listen in to some of that meeting and hear what was said by who. Just before that, let me explain. Council meetings are full of meandering questions that don't necessarily go anywhere or have a specific answer.

Now, a reminder that the council says it is keen to continue providing arts in the borough and that the theatre has been closed since September 2023. OK, so let's listen in to some of that meeting and hear what was said by who. Just before that, let me explain. Council meetings are full of meandering questions that don't necessarily go anywhere or have a specific answer.

Protocol and performance, things like how people are invited to speak, introductions, reintroductions, how they address each other every single time, even while having a conversation. So, in this recording of the meeting, I've removed what you may perhaps call the repetitive, anachronistic, aerated conversation, and just kept the important and strong bits of the structure.

Protocol and performance, things like how people are invited to speak, introductions, reintroductions, how they address each other every single time, even while having a conversation. So, in this recording of the meeting, I've removed what you may perhaps call the repetitive, anachronistic, aerated conversation, and just kept the important and strong bits of the structure.

The full meeting, which you can see and hear on the Council website, was around 1 hour 40 minutes long. My version is round about 23 minutes. OK, the meeting is chaired by Councillor Nick Harrison. You'll hear some elected councillors and also the occasional council officer who are members of staff and sometimes references to written questions which are in the report on the council's website.

The full meeting, which you can see and hear on the Council website, was around 1 hour 40 minutes long. My version is round about 23 minutes. OK, the meeting is chaired by Councillor Nick Harrison. You'll hear some elected councillors and also the occasional council officer who are members of staff and sometimes references to written questions which are in the report on the council's website.

Now, not every question is included. Not every speaker is identified because occasionally mics in the chamber were muted.

Now, not every question is included. Not every speaker is identified because occasionally mics in the chamber were muted.

And that is where we'll leave last night's Thursday night's council meeting and that kind of potted coverage of what was discussed and who said what to who and what the answers were as well. as you would have realised. Ironically, nothing concrete was decided. So what happens next? Well, the council's executive meet on 30 January for formal decision-making.

And that is where we'll leave last night's Thursday night's council meeting and that kind of potted coverage of what was discussed and who said what to who and what the answers were as well. as you would have realised. Ironically, nothing concrete was decided. So what happens next? Well, the council's executive meet on 30 January for formal decision-making.

Those decisions won't include a final ruling on the future of the Harlequin. Instead, it's likely to agree to a further report on costed options, how much will be replaced and repaired, and whether any changes to the building will be included in that work. We've spoken about that before. whether it needs a new roof, whether they'll actually improve the facilities that were already there.

Those decisions won't include a final ruling on the future of the Harlequin. Instead, it's likely to agree to a further report on costed options, how much will be replaced and repaired, and whether any changes to the building will be included in that work. We've spoken about that before. whether it needs a new roof, whether they'll actually improve the facilities that were already there.

Because as you heard, the councillors say some of it is a little bit outdated now. And so there's a good opportunity to make some changes as well. And of course, you'll hear full coverage of that on the Planet Reigate podcast. Let me just check where else you can hear all of that and make up your own decisions and the full coverage in any other local media.

Because as you heard, the councillors say some of it is a little bit outdated now. And so there's a good opportunity to make some changes as well. And of course, you'll hear full coverage of that on the Planet Reigate podcast. Let me just check where else you can hear all of that and make up your own decisions and the full coverage in any other local media.

No, it's just here on the Planet Rygate podcast. And there's so much more about the Harlequin in our archived episodes of the Planet Rygate podcast. In episode 48, we have a breakdown of the reasons for the Harlequin closure in a kind of straightforward Q&A style. In episode 49, audio highlights of a council meeting decision on what was going to happen next.

No, it's just here on the Planet Rygate podcast. And there's so much more about the Harlequin in our archived episodes of the Planet Rygate podcast. In episode 48, we have a breakdown of the reasons for the Harlequin closure in a kind of straightforward Q&A style. In episode 49, audio highlights of a council meeting decision on what was going to happen next.