Expressions of Interest - running Chapel Gallery, Ormskrk

West Lancashire Borough Council is seeking expressions of interest from organisations to take over and run the Chapel Gallery on a commercial basis. However, the vision for the Gallery is that it retains an arts and cultural focus with exhibitions, performances, films and other cultural activities that draw people into the town and contribute to the economic and social activity of Ormskirk.

The Chapel Gallery plays a pivotal role as Ormskirk's creative and cultural hub providing new and compelling reasons for people to visit the town centre. The Council would expect a new operator to introduce new activities that would contribute positively to the town centre with complementary uses that would increasing footfall and vibrancy within the town and the Gallery itself.

The Chapel Gallery currently has bookings for a variety of users. These help to drive footfall into the café, shop and town centre more generally. As well as exhibitions, a regular arts club is held along with workshops, talks and summer holiday clubs. Further details can be provided to interested parties. Where practicable it is envisaged that the new operator will continue with these bookings.

The Gallery hosts a number of events including the Lancashire Open in the summer and other exhibitions as well as supporting town centre events such as the annual Christmas Lights Switch on, Gingerbread Festival and Motorfest.

The Council and stakeholders of the town would like to grow the number of activities and events in Ormskirk town centre. As well as continuing to host events such as the Lancashire Open in the Gallery, the council asks that the operator of the Gallery is proactive in supporting art and cultural events in the town centre as well as opening the Gallery and hosting activities within it which are complementary to the events itself.

There are a number of activities for children hosted by the Gallery. The holiday clubs are especially popular.

The existing café facility trades well although there is potential to develop this much further.

The Chapel Gallery holds a Premises Licence which includes the sale and supply of alcohol.

Expression of interest documents are available via 'The Chest' https://www.the-chest.org.uk , interested applicants should register on 'The Chest' and visit the 'Current opportunities' page and then click on the drop down menu for 'West Lancashire Borough Council' to access further details of the opportunity.

Site visits to Chapel Gallery are available to interested applicants. Any interested applicant who wishes to request a site visit is requested to do so via https://the-chest.org.uk messaging system.

Expressions of Interest must be submitted by 9/9/19 2.00pm via https://the-chest.org.uk, clarifications in relation to this requirement must be submitted via the messaging system within 'The Chest' by 4/9/19 2.00pm.

Additional information:

Our Vision

To be a council which is ambitious for West Lancashire - our Economy, Environment and for Health and Wellbeing

We are ambitious for our economy, and for inclusive growth in West Lancashire, retaining and growing good quality jobs, increasing skills levels and encouraging business and wealth generation.

This is matched by our ambitions for a good quality, clean, built and physical environment, and for ensuring the conditions are in place for people in West Lancashire to live healthy and fulfilling lives. These ambitions are reflected in the priorities and key projects that have been identified.

Our Values

Collaborative - working in partnership to benefit West Lancashire, being open and involving in the way decisions are made, and adopting a co-ordinated 'one Council' approach Empowering - valuing and developing communities and employees to take responsibility for solutions, and to make the most of our local assets

Enterprising - being innovative and creative, delivering lasting improvements and ongoing efficiencies to bring the Council to a sustainable position

Equality - promoting equality and seeking to reduce inequality

Focused - being strategic and prioritising the things that make the biggest difference to our communities

Proud - of West Lancashire as a place to live, work, visit, and invest

Our Priorities

Deliver tangible and visible improvements in the borough, by:

Completing the current review of the Local Plan

Developing new and improving leisure facilities as health and leisure hubs

Delivering retail, housing and public realm improvements with a focus on Skelmersdale Town Centre Establishing a Development Company

Creating the Moor Street Gateway

Implementing the Route Optimisation Round Review and associated projects

Implementing the Clean and Green Service structure and deliver the new service standards

Engage and empower our local communities, by:

Delivering the Master Plan for Tawd Valley park, subject to resources

Seeking the asset transfer of existing leisure facilities in North Meols

Delivering digital inclusion initiatives

Implementing the Health and Wellbeing Strategy including involvement with the Integrated Community Partnership

Actively promote the borough as a great place to live, work, visit and invest, by:

Promoting the Council's role and West Lancashire's achievements including through digital communications Engaging businesses and communities to enhance and promote Ormskirk and the wider West Lancashire visitor economy Engaging with Liverpool City Region, Lancashire authorities and key decision makers

Enhancing and promoting Skelmersdale and the wider West Lancashire business economy

Delivering our priorities

West Lancashire Borough Council is ambitious for West Lancashire. We are committed to important projects that will benefit the borough and everyone who lives and works here. For information about the key projects that will deliver our priorities please view the Council Plan. Details about how we manage performance can be found on our Performance Management pages.

Stay connected with future tender opportunities by visiting:

The Chest www.the-chest.org.uk

Contracts Finder www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk Tenders Electronic Daily https://ted.europa.eu