Job cuts and revised opening hours planned at cinema

Dan Martin
BBC News, Leicester
Hannah Richardson
Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC A large building with scaffolding covering much of itBBC
Work to replace the cladding on the Phoenix is currently under way

A Leicester cinema and arts centre is proposing to cut its opening hours and reduce staff numbers to save money.

The Phoenix Cinema and Arts Centre, in the city's Cultural Centre, currently opens seven days a week but said it was looking to close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from April.

The centre, run by a charitable trust, has told staff it expects to see a "significant reduction" in its annual £194,000 grant from Leicester City Council from April and could not absorb the cost.

The council said it had not made a final decision on the grant to Phoenix but added it was in an "extremely difficult" funding position itself.

'Unsettling time'

In a briefing document for its 57 staff, seen by the BBC, Phoenix bosses said that as well as the loss of council funding the four-screen venue was facing significant rises in staff and operating costs.

"The charity has no option but to progress plans to save circa £200,000 in costs," the document said.

"This level of savings can only be made from payroll savings.

"Therefore, Phoenix cannot continue to operate in the same way."

It said reducing opening hours to five days a week and closing earlier on Sunday evenings "may result in redundancies across the charity" though no specific number of job losses has been released.

A large building with scaffolding covering much of it
Phoenix bosses said they were looking for alternative sources of finance

Sarah Vallance, co-chief executive of the Phoenix, said: "We will try everything we can to minimise the need to make any redundancies.

"Consultations with staff are absolutely vital to that and that process is underway."

Ms Vallance told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the charity would be looking for alternative sources of funding including looking to run more conferences for businesses.

She said she accepted the city council faced an "enormous" challenge with its own finances.

"It is essential that we reduce costs so we can rebuild our funds, improve our financial stability and secure Phoenix's future – this proposal is a vital step in that process." Ms Vallance added.

"This is an incredibly unsettling time for all Phoenix staff, as proposals are worked through."

'Prudent'

The consultation with staff is under way as work on a £14m project to replace cladding on the Phoenix building and attached flats continues.

A city council spokesperson said: "Phoenix Arts has been affected by a number of issues, including the longer than anticipated recovery of cinema audiences, and the impact of the works taking place there.

"We have been talking to them for some time about our own extremely difficult funding position, and the need for us to take difficult decisions to balance our books.

"We have not yet made a final decision on this, and are considering all options, but it is prudent of the Phoenix trustees to plan on the assumption that we won't be able to continue to support them in the future."

The council will make a final decision on the grant when it decides its budget in February.

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