The Cliffs Pavilion could be put into the hands of a private company capable of injecting millions of pounds into the Westcliff theatre, a secret report has revealed.

Southend Council is looking at the future of the venue as part of a complete review of its services.

The theatre, in Station Road, is run entirely by the council, but two possible options for its future are being looked at, the Evening Echo can reveal.

One would be to attract a company with the ability to pump cash into the theatre to boost it as a top-class venue.

Any potential company taking over the running of the Cliffs would have to prove its financial muscle and its willingness to make a major investment into the venue, a report from the secret session of the council's cabinet said.

An alternative would be to create a trust to run it under the guidance of a board of trustees.

The council would in effect off-load ownership of the theatre but would probably continue funding it.

The Palace Theatre in Westcliff is run along the same lines, with a board of directors running the playhouse with a financial subsidy from Southend Council.

Moves to change the way the Cliffs is managed comes after a £12 million funding bid to revamp the theatre was turned down by the Arts Council.

The refurbishment programme,which included extending the stage to cater for larger productions, was expected to cost in the region of £15 million.

However, a second bid for Arts Council cash - this time for £5 million - has been launched to refurbish the theatre and the council wants an extra £7 million to come from "other sources."

The council has refused to reveal any further information about the possibility of a handover to the private sector because the report by director of corporate services Graham Snewin has so far only been heard in private.

At the next scrutiny meeting it will once again only be heard by councillors as the public are excluded from the second half of the meeting when the report will be analysed.

By Keily Oakes

Reporter's e-mail: keily.oakes@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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