Mansion’s future secure as a popular arts centre

THE future of a Georgian mansion in the Cotswolds has been secured as a popular arts centre. Stroud district councillors have agreed a new seven-year lease for Kingshill House in Dursley.

The Grade II-listed mansion has operated as an arts centre providing classes and workshops for the community over the past 20 years.

The building in Kingshill Lane had previously been used as offices by Stroud District Council but now also offers room hire for general use and social events.

It has been run by charity Kingshill House Ltd which has a 25-year full repairing and insuring lease and pays £5 a year in rent to the authority.

Its lease is due to expire in October 2024 but councillors have agreed to the new extension.

Kingshill House has continued to operate thanks to support from Stroud District Council, property manager Jill Fallows told Thursday’s strategy and resources committee meeting.

“It has revised its business plan,” she said.

“It had a successful summer, continues to run a busy and varied programme of events and will have a surplus cash flow by the end of the year.

“It now has more volunteers and has strengthened the trustee body and overall it’s in a good position. They are very appreciative of the help and support.

She explained that the charity cannot take responsibility for all repairs under the new lease but has agreed to carry out routine repairs and maintenance. The council will take on responsibility for the roof and structure of the building.

The council has agreed to set aside £100,000 in capital budget to spend on priority works and investigations to continue to protect the fabric of the building.

Another £50,000 will be set aside each year for ongoing maintenance.

During the meeting, Councillor Keith Pearson raised concerns the authority was committing to possibly spending more than £500,000 over the lease period for a peppercorn rent.

But Cllr Stephen Davies said if the council doesn’t make the decision the property would return to them and they would incur all the costs of the listed building and it would not produce a benefit. “Worst still, we’d have to run it,” he said.

Cllr Mattie Ross said: “I often think that this is a bit of a jewel in our crown really. It’s a delightful venue.

“There’s so much going on there. It’s more than a community and arts centre. People go there for a feelgood factor.”

Council leader Catherine Braun said she was really pleased to propose the motion.

She said she has had frank conversations with the chair of trustees over their work developing an effective programme.

Kingshill House reaches across the whole south of the district, she told the committee.

“It’s an incredible Grade II-listed building which I feel we are privileged to have in our property portfolio and we do have this duty of care to maintain it,” she said.

“£50,000 a year for such a large property that is delivering a huge amount of value to the local community is a significant expense but it could be a lot greater if the trust were not delivering their own annual maintenance.

She said £100,000 in the budget would only be spent if needed for the large repairs.

> Kingshill House in Dursley