The long term future of Baycourt Community and Arts Centre remains up in the air despite Tauranga City Council agreeing to keep a closer eye on the venue operations.

Councillors discussed the use of the community theatre on Durham Street, its policy and funding direction and whether to transfer direct control from council to Bay Leisure and Events as part of the Annual Plan hearings yesterday.

Tauranga City Council will further investigations into transferring Baycourt to Bay Leisure and Events Limited.

After attending two workshops last month to discuss the venue's issues and potential solutions, councillors unanimously agreed further investigations are needed into the possibility of transferring Baycourt to Bay Leisure and Events Limited.

Currently, the only part of Baycourt which has been separated by council is the sound and lighting business – split into a commercial amalgamated organisation.

The concerns come after Baycourt venue manager Pip Loader told council the current policy regarding a mix of subsidised community use versus full commercial use is not balanced.

Deputy Mayor David Stewart says it makes sense to hold back on any decision as time is needed to consult all parties involved.

'They [the users] see the shortcomings and there is a lot of work to be done. Let's have a good look at it and what can be done.

'There is potential there.”

Councillors decided to retain the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 target in addition to actively managing the venue after targets were not met in recent years.

The target mix is split three ways - of 33.3 per cent for youth focused events, local not for profit events and commercial or professional events respectively. The only one not receiving significant discounts on venue hire costs is the commercial and professional events, placing funding pressure on Baycourt.

The decision comes after Tauranga City Council strategic planner Jeremy Boase advised councillors the current target mix is not currently being met and the changes fall in line with councillor's requests following the earlier workshops.

'What we probably need to do is see what it does in reality.”

Under the new decision, the active management of Baycourt includes managing the timing of potential bookings rather than the ‘first in first served' approach and introducing peak and off-peak venue hire rates.

Council believe the changes will increase Baycourt's opportunities to develop what it offers patrons and the preforming arts community.

Mayor Stuart Crosby says looking back on the venue's history staff have dug themselves out of a financial slump despite council taking away commercial opportunities.

'If we go back in history Baycourt was struggling then it got on to a pretty good break even.”

'Then we put ratepayer funds into certain elements and that was a commercial decision made. Now we have taken these commercial opportunities away.”

Councillors also agreed to consider changes to the subsidy system, which will see event subsidies rather than venue subsidies, amended contracts to the technical labour hours included in the venue hire and Baycourt and Bay Leisure Events Limited operating seamlessly from a client perspective.

Councillor Bill Faulkner says future changes to the subsidy system, helping achieve delivery and funding targets set by elected members, is something which has been coming for a while.

'The population has doubled since Baycourt was built. We need to have perhaps better use and might need some incentives to get that use.”

Councillor Larry Baldock also supports the subsidy decision although admits it will be ongoing work for everyone involved to get optimum results out of the venue and its users.