Liberal Democrats Slam Camberley Theatre Report

10.00.00pm GMT Wed 31st Mar 2004

Last year, one in every eight pounds raised in Council Tax by Surrey Heath Borough Council was used to subsidise The Camberley Theatre. According to local Liberal Democrat Councillors, this is too much!

Cllr Bob Smith is calling for resident's views on The Camberley Theatre

John Faulkner, shadow portfolio holder for Resources said: "Last year, the costs of running The Camberley Theatre was £1.150m, whilst its income was £502,800, a net cost to the Council Tax payer of £647,000. What is more, within the income was a further subsidy to the Theatre of £49,000 to account for "Community" use of the facility which was deemed non-commercial. These figures are astronomical".

The Council has committed itself to decide on new management arrangements for the theatre by the end of May, one of the few measurable targets in its corporate plan this year. The way forward is due to be determined at the Council's Executive meeting on Tuesday, 6th April. The report to be discussed concludes that since the current situation is seen to be working well and is cost effective, no change should be made.

David Whitcroft, Lib Dem Group Leader said: "Liberal Democrat members disassociate themselves from this report - which senior Conservatives have already endorsed - because it reaches unjustified conclusions based on little evidence and no investigation. The basic problem is that the Conservatives are prepared to subsidise the Theatre to such a ludicrously high degree and this waste is symptomatic of how this Council is run by the Tories."

Bob Smith, shadow Corporate Portfolio holder said: "The Lib Dem Group is now carrying out our own study of this problem, following the model of investigatory committees we established with our Skateboard Report. We have already taken evidence from a number of relevant sources and our preliminary report will be available in April.

"However, it is already clear that there are ways to maintain the services that the Theatre provides to the community whilst reducing this enormous burden on the public purse. Essentially, the problem isn't with the Theatre, which is progressing well under its current management, but with the fact that the Council adds costs without adding equivalent value to the operation.

"It is noticeable that the Arena is privately managed in Surrey Heath, and makes a profit. The theatre is Council managed and makes a large loss."