Council will fight for £1m theatre repair costs
SEFTON Council is preparing to fight for money from the former occupiers of Southport Theatre after being left with a £1m repair bill.
The council will fund the immediate works out of its essential maintenance budget but says it intends to pursue a dilapidations claim with the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG).
ATG operated the theatre and convention centre until 2018, when it left the property, which is now managed on a temporary basis by Bliss, which owns the attached hotel and Waterfront complex.
A report prepared by Stephan Van Arendsen, the council’s head of corporate resources, explains that a detailed condition survey was undertaken to identify building condition and essential maintenance liabilities after ATG left.
Among the problems found were a range of essential works relating to electrical systems, roof repairs and fire safety matters which will cost about £235,000 to rectify.
Further work could cost an additional £1m and the council hopes to reclaim money from ATG through a dilapidations claim, which allows landlords to reclaim money lost through a leaseholder breaching their agreed obligations.
Additional work includes the replacement of the main theatre ceiling, along with more wide-ranging roof repairs which form part of a longer term and more detailed maintenance plan.
The planned repair work will force the closure of the theatre for “several weeks”, which is expected to happen before the end of April.
The report states: “Management of the STCC asset has recently returned to the council after a long lease with the previous operator came to an end. A new contractor (Bliss) has recently been appointed on a short-term basis to manage the facility whilst a procurement process is undertaken aimed at securing a longterm lease/operator.
“In the intervening period Bliss are managing day-to-day operations, along with identified risks. The award of a long-term lease will ensure future sustainability of the theatre and conference functions.”
“When the previous operator surrendered the property in 2018. This information was also used to formulate the basis of the temporary agreement with Bliss, while at the same time a consultant was commissioned to undertake a dilapidations survey and produce a schedule of repair.
“This has recently been finalised and the council is in the process of submitting a formal dilapidations claim.”
ATG did not respond to a request for comment.