Wales Millennium Centre

Much has happened since the Assembly voted on 22 January 2002 by 47 to two to permit the building of the Wales Millennium Centre. As Assembly Members, we have all watched the vast building take shape on the other side of the street, and we look forward to the official opening weekend when the centre opens its doors on Friday 26 November. Practical completion of the building was achieved on 15 October, and, four days earlier, on 11 October, the WMC company took possession of the building for an acoustics test in the main auditorium, the Donald Gordon Theatre. The test involved a live performance before a full audience. The test was a vital way point, as acoustics can change significantly under the conditions of a full house. I certainly enjoyed the sound of the performance, but I know that acoustics are highly subjective. The audio technicians who measured the hall under these test conditions have been able to confirm from the readings of their electronic instruments that they are very good. I understand that, with some fine-tuning, they will be even better on the opening night.

The WMC company has had the most astonishing amount of work to do between 15 October and 26 November. In particular, the catering and retail fit-outs are well under way. Members will have seen the publicity about this already. The main catering outlet, the Tiger Bay Jazz Cafe, will be run by a company called Brazz, and there will be other retail and catering opportunities as well.

The opening night will belong to the people of Wales. The majority of the audience will have received their free tickets via a public ballot organised by the Electoral Reform Society. This ensures that the ballot will be fair and transparent. The ballot closed on November 1, and I can tell the Assembly that about 8,000 requests for a pair of tickets were received. On the Saturday, there will be an open-air hymns and arias concert, with some 4,000 voices from 70 choirs, followed by a major fireworks display. The weekend will conclude on the Sunday with a second major concert—a royal gala performance.

Of course, preparation for the opening will go right to the wire. That is the nature of a major iconic project like this. The WMC has made progress on a number of fronts. It has been vital, for example, to ensure that public transport and car parking are adequate, both for the opening weekend and thereafter. Members will know that work on a dedicated multi-storey car park has not yet started and that it will not be available for some time, but detailed interim parking arrangements are in place. For the opening weekend, the WMC has worked closely with the highly experienced Cardiff county events team and with the police to ensure a quality experience for the thousands expected. Indeed, I must thank Cardiff County Council for its support and practical help in bringing all this to fruition.

The building—and this is a real achievement—came in on time and on budget. I recently received the company’s final business plan, and I am pleased to report that this shows a balanced operation for the first three years. The capital fundraising deficit is now below £2 million, and the company is determined to close this gap completely by the end of the calendar year.

Notwithstanding this, the timing of cash flow remains an issue, largely as a result of the timing of capital allowances. Members will recall that, last year, I informed you of a notifiable transaction under Standing Order No. 21.16, involving a transaction falling within Standing Order No. 21.19, namely the guarantee of a loan to Wales Millennium Centre Ltd. The loan, which covers the cash-flow deficit, was provided by HSBC and, at that stage, I set the period of the loan to the end of November 2004. Today, I announce my intention to extend the period of the loan guarantee for a further six months to the end of May 2005. I do not propose to extend the amount of the guarantee, simply its timescale.

The WMC company and the resident organisations are all busy occupying the centre, and preparations are well under way for the Urdd festival, which will take place in and around the centre in June next year. I am sure that I speak for the entire Assembly when I say that I am looking forward to the oval basin and the WMC being transformed into the Urdd maes.

I cannot guarantee perfect November weather for the opening weekend in two weeks’ time, but I can guarantee world-class performances in a world-class venue that every political party in our National Assembly has voted to bring about.