Theatre cash decision comes under scrutiny

Plans to inject more public cash into Chichester Festival Theatre are to be probed by West Sussex county councillors.

By The Newsroom

Published 23rd Nov 2005, 10:21 BST

Updated 8th Jun 2018, 03:35 BST

County cabinet member Cllr Steve Waight has approved a grant of 200,000 from County Hall coffers.

But his proposal has now been 'called in' for special scrutiny by the county's policy and resources select committee at a meeting on November 30. The committee does not have the power to overrule a cabinet member, but it can press for a rethink if it believes it necessary.

Chichester District Council has given approval in principle to the idea of a grant, and the Arts Council has approved a grant of 1.5m for each of the next two years '“ subject to the two councils chipping in. The county call-in was proposed by Cllr Morwen Millson, leader of the Lib Dem group.

She said she was concerned that quite a lot of taxpayers' money was being given away without any real scrutiny from the 'greater council'."

Full story in West Sussex Gazette, November 24