Yeovil council proposes tax increase to reopen theatre

Yeovil Town Council has launched a public consultation inviting residents to comment on whether the Council should help reopen the Octagon Theatre.

The proposal would see the Council contribute £3,964,500 (including Stamp Duty) towards the project, helping to transform and reopen one of Yeovil’s "most significant cultural venues that helps to support the economic prosperity of the town".

The consultation launched on August 13, asks whether residents of Yeovil Town Council are in favour of going ahead with the contribution of £3,964,500 (including Stamp Duty) towards the Octagon Theatre project which would result in borrowing of £3,325,000.

The consultation also asks whether residents would be in favour of the Town Council going ahead with the loan and financial contribution to the project, if it includes a Council Tax precept increase of 3.3 per cent for the purpose of the loan repayment.

A 3.3 per cent precept increase equates to an annual Council Tax increase of £11.60 for an average Band D property (or 22p per week) over a 20-year period.

85.3 per cent of properties in the parish of Yeovil are below a Band D, so contributions for most households would be less than this amount.

The Octagon Theatre development project has recently reached a key milestone with the concept design stage now complete which means that artists’ impressions can now be shared.

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The development would see the theatre redeveloped, refurbished and renewed to secure its future for generations. The new design proposals would see:

• The auditorium refurbished with new seating and carpets
• A new studio for classes in dance, music, theatre, and creative art
• A greatly improved café bar area open throughout the day
• Improved front of house customer facilities with a large increase in toilet provision, more accessible toilets, gender neutral toilets and a Changing Places facility
• Accessibility improved throughout the venue
• Improvements to the stage house and backstage area that will significantly improve our technical aspects of our productions.

Under the new scheme, the theatre is currently projected to reopen in the 2028/29 financial year.

Following its reopening, the theatre would transfer under the ownership of Yeovil Town Council.

The Octagon Theatre closed at the end of April 2023 for survey works to take place ahead of planned development of the theatre.

Months later, Somerset Council who currently own the theatre and had planned to redevelop it, declared their plans to develop the Octagon Theatre unviable due to their financial emergency and increases in interest and inflation that impacted the cost of borrowing and construction.

In October 2023, Yeovil Town Council held an emergency meeting and voted in favour to work in partnership with Somerset Council and offer support to see the Octagon Theatre developed and reopened.

Since then, work has been going on behind the scenes that would see a total project budget of £15 million, with funding from Central Government (Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport), Yeovil Town Council, Ticket Levy, Somerset Council, plus fundraising and other grants.

Councillor Andy Soughton, Leader of Yeovil Town Council, said: “This is your opportunity to have your say on the funding of the Octagon Theatre and ultimately, ensure that the new and improved venue reopens. We believe that the Octagon Theatre is a vital part of the cultural and leisure offering of our town and Yeovil Town Council can play a big part in the future of our town and the success of the theatre. I would urge all residents who live in the parish of Yeovil Town to read the information presented to you in the letter we send and have your say through either returning your consultation form or completing it online.”

Yeovil Town Council has sent letters to each household in the parish which should be delivered the week commencing Monday, August 18.

If you do not receive a letter then your household then it is likely that it does not fall within the parish boundary of Yeovil.

You can get additional information through the Yeovil Town Council website at www.yeovil.gov.uk/octagon-theatre or attend one of two open events that will be held at Westlands Entertainment Venue on:

Thursday, August 28: 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Wednesday, September 3: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

The open events allow residents the opportunity to learn more and discuss the project and associated borrowing plan.

The consultation will formally close on Sunday, September 21.