Rose Theatre finances to come under scrutiny?

2:58pm Monday 12th May 2008

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The finances of the Rose Theatre are set to come under scrutiny.

The Surrey Comet reported last week that last-minute health and safety hitches with doors and wires at the Rose Theatre had landed council taxpayers with a new £350,000 extension to the bill.

Conservative councillors are threatening to "call-in" the decision if the handover of the money is approved by executive members at a Tuesday evening meeting.

So far the Kingston Theatre Limited Liability Partnership, set up to fund the theatre refit, has been loaned £5.2m, with the council funding 95 per cent.

If the Conservatives call-in the decision, an overview panel, made up of Tories and Lib Dems will be able to quiz council leader Derek Osborne and ask for more information about the council's role in funding the Theatre.

They can also ask "interested parties" to attend a meeting, raising the prospect of the board of the Kingston Theatre Limited Liability Partnership being grilled.

Council leader Derek Osborne said on Monday: "We expect them to call it in. The alternative is not to pay the bills of the business.

"Are the Conservatives really saying if some work is done they are not paying the bills?"

The council will also decide whether to spend £5,000 changing the name of the Drapers car park opposite the Theatre to the The Rose car park.