‘Anger and concern’ over Peterborough council plans

A proposal by Peterborough City Council to set up a non-profit company to run Peterborough Museum, Flag Fen and its libraries until 2029 endangers the future of the city’s cultural sites, a civic group has warned.

The leisure services were previously run by charity Vivacity, which ended its contract in 2020, citing financial difficulties.

The responsibility for running the services passed the Peterborough Limited, the council’s subsidiary firm, last year.

The Conservative-led council said the plan would save £2m at a time of budget deficits and affirmed its commitment to securing the future of leisure, culture, heritage and library services.

“Since the demise of the Vivacity and the rising cost of utilities, we don’t have sufficient funds to maintain the service as it is,” said Rob Hill, one of the council officers who worked on the latest plans.

“Moving the services into the subsidiary will allow us the opportunity to bring costs down, secure best value and ultimately avoid having to close any of these services down in the future.”

But opposition councillors and members of Peterborough Civic Society have criticised the plans, citing fears that they might lead to funding cuts.

“The museum could potentially lose out on funding… We think the new proposed governance model might not meet the national museum standards”, said Toby Wood, Chairman of the civic society.

“We have written to the leader of the council asking to pause this plan but we are not being listened to,” he added. “There’s anger and concern the city could be left without any culture venues.”

Conservative council leader Wayne Fitzgerald defended the plans at a cabinet meeting this week, claiming the council takes the provision of leisure, culture, heritage and libraries seriously.

Steve Allen, deputy leader at the council, said that the company would be set up and is expected to be ready to take over care of the venues by the end of the year,

“We are not selling the family jewels,” he said. “We are fully committed to securing a strong cultural and leisure heritage offer.”