Artists held a protest before a town hall meeting where senior councillors agreed to sell off their base in the heart of Brighton.
Sussex County Arts Club members and supporters gathered outside Hove Town Hall and urged Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet to protect their use of the venue.
The Labour deputy leader of the council Jacob Taylor told the club’s secretary Pippa Burley that talks would start with the club soon about the possibility of a longer lease and other legal securities.
At the cabinet meeting this afternoon (Thursday 16 October) she asked for any agreement reached with the council to bind any prospective buyer of their Bond Street base.
The club has proposed options such as covenants to preserve the venue. Members have been meeting there since 1944 and want to be protected from eviction or unsupportable rent increases.
Members filled the public gallery overlooking the council chamber and applauded Pippa Burley’s question while many others were outside the town hall holding banners calling on the council to save the institution.
Councillor Taylor said that communication from the council had not been good enough and apologised that there had not more notice of the proposals.
He said: “The last thing we want to happen or will let happen is risk the future of the arts club in this location.
“One of the reasons that Brighton and Hove is special and one of the reasons I live here and I’m bringing up my kids here and, indeed, why my parents moved here just after I was born is the special nature of this city and its creative sector and its not-for-profit sector.”
Councillor Taylor said that officials would work with the club either to extend the lease or work out a covenant or a transfer to ensure that the club can continue as it is.
The council plans to sell various properties as part of a wider programme to raise money to buy more homes for temporary housing.
The properties earmarked for sale include nine buildings in Bond Street, among them 3/3a Bond Street Cottages which is occupied by the arts club.
By 2030, the council aims to raise £50 million from the sale of commercial property and by leasing under-used council offices.
Green councillor Ellen McLeay, who represents West Hill and North Laine, praised the club’s work in providing about 500 affordable art classes every year but accused the council of “selling off the family silver”.
Councillor McLeay said: “Raising capital through asset sales to support housing is, of course, important. Buying existing buildings for housing – especially for temporary accommodation – is a smart and efficient move.
“The Greens have long supported this and we continue to call for a higher proportion of these purchases to be allocated to temporary housing.
As the sell off has been agreed the Sussex County Arts club with its eighty year history as a community asset is in danger ,as there has to date been no communication with the club from the council about its intentions to sell until the 8th,too late to make representation.Lets hope the offer to protect SCAC made at the meeting today in the face of this demonstration and protest , materialises.
I think it was Sam Goldwyn who said that “a verbal contract is not worth the paper it’s printed on!” Be aware, be very aware…
It’s solid advice. Contracts can feel overly formal, but they ultimately protect both sides.