A theatre company is in negotiation with Bradford Council over taking control of Bingley Arts Centre.

Trustees at Bingley Little Theatre have approached the Council in a bid to run the centre, in Main Street, for the Bingley community.

It may be the first of Bradford Council’s assets to be put in public hands as the authority looks to save about £30 million in its leisure budget.

Trustee John Eaton stressed that negotiations remained ongoing with the Council’s asset management and cultural services departments. A decision could be made by the end of the year.

Mr Eaton said: “Bingley Little Theatre has proposed that it takes over the management of the arts centre for local residents. It will be a way to secure the group’s future and to secure the arts centre as a true community centre, to maximise the use of the arts centre for the benefit of Bingley.”

Bingley Little Theatre has part of the centre on a ten-year lease. If the Council agrees for it to take over the running of the centre, a new committee would be set up, with the centre run as a charitable company.

That would be responsible for managing and maintenance of the building, staffing the centre with volunteers and publicising events.

Mr Eaton said: “The heart of the community involves cultural activities and this could be the glue that holds the community together.”

  • Read the full story in Tuesday's T&A