Playhouse future debate

THE running of one North Somerset's most popular entertainment venues could be taken out of the hands of the local authority - according to a North Somerset councillor.Councillor Elfan Ap Rees wants to set up a working group to look at the cost of running The Playhouse in Weston and he says turning the theatre into a charitable trust is one option that it could look at.Cllr Ap Rees will ask members of the strategic planning and economic development policy and scrutiny panel if they are interested in joining the group when it meets on Monday.He said: "These latest developments have come out of budget discussions as we need to look for savings at the theatre in the long-term."The Playhouse operates with a subsidy as the building is not big enough to make enough money to run it."One option is setting up a trust. That will involve establishing a registered charity and handing over the theatre to it."The running of The Playhouse could be taken out of the sole hands of North Somerset Council. Local people who are interested in The Playhouse could then help run it in partnership with the local authority."I think it is unlikely that the theatre will be sold because nobody is interested in buying it because it doesn't make a profit."Members will discuss details of how to form the working group, which is likely to be made up of three to four members. A date has not yet been set for the group's first meeting.