Letter: Culture in Peterborough is at its most vibrant

He states that “….many would say that some of (Vivacity’s) demise was down to a top-heavy and remote management structure”.

I am wondering who the many are that think this? Probably not the 106,000 city residents that used and enjoyed Vivacity’s services regularly. The fact is that the “top heavy management structure” inherited from the Council was actually cut by two thirds over the last 10 years.

As to “remote”, 98% of Vivacity’s c500 staff live in Greater Peterborough as did every Trustee.

Toby then states that “Vivacity has now handed its services and virtually empty coffers back to the Council”. Empty coffers? Vivacity never did have “coffers”, as an independent charity all income received and any surpluses made were reinvested in its services. In simple terms surpluses from the profitable Leisure Services (gyms etc.) were invested in the loss making Culture and Heritage services. This is the model that actually saved the Key Theatre and the Lido from closure when the Council withdrew all funding from them and Vivacity succeeded in keeping them open as part of its charitable objectives. It is the model that also delivered one of the largest and best Heritage Festivals in the country free of charge to residents, wholly funded by Vivacity and the generous support of its sponsors.

At the time Vivacity handed back the services it operated under contract with the Council it was receiving half the sum it was costing the Council to operate these services 10 years before, in real terms much less than half. At termination the Council was left with no debts, but will benefit from the secure transfer of c500 excellent and dedicated staff and the efforts of hundreds of volunteers who helped create the most vibrant culture and heritage offer the City has ever enjoyed – “many would say that”.

I suggest the time has come to look forward and find ways to safeguard and build on this fantastic legacy and to achieve this I am in agreement with Toby – dynamic leadership will be required.

Stewart Francis

Former Chair, Vivacity

Read the Civic Pride article HERE