'Last throw of the dice for Thameside Theatre'' Council cash reserve has been plundered and question remains: Is there is enough left in the pot to sustain transition to a community company' Decision delayed to July.

PLANS to transfer Thurrock's Thameside Theatre to community ownership have been put on ice by the cash-strapped borough council until midsummer – and the authority has been warned that it still risks losing the much-loved facility if a deal can't be brokered.

Plans by the council to shut the Thameside as a cost-saving measure were first confirmed in a Nub News story last June.

Since then, a highly emotional and well-supported public campaign prompted a change of heart by the authority, which entered into negotiations to hand over the theatre to a newly created community interest company.

That was evidenced in January when portfolio holder for regeneration Cllr Mark Coxshall said: "The last six months have been extremely constructive and I hope a community run building will be the outcome of this.

"Community use is the way to go and let's hope we can get an agreement so that we solve this once and for all and we don't kick the can down the line which has been happening for the last 12 years."

But at last night's meeting of the council's cabinet Cllr Coxshall informed his colleagues that a deal was far from certain and he said that making a decision had now been delayed until at least July.

Nub News understands a significant problem is that the council has had to raid its reserves and plunder eight million from them to prop up its budget for next year. Much of that money has come from the transformation reserve of £6 million - which is where money had been set aside to support the transition of the theatre to a community interest company. Now that pot is evidently bare, a viable deal that appeared to be on the table may now not be possible.

The commitment of the local community and interest groups to ensure the survival of the Thameside complex was flagged up on Tuesday (8 March) at the council's corporate overview and scrutiny committee.

At that meeting, Neil Woodbridge, who represents Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions CIC and Thurrock International Celebration of Culture Ltd who are hoping to take over running of the Thameside, read a statement.

He said: "Firstly we want to thank officers and members for the opportunity to try and save the Thameside and keep a place for arts and culture at the heart of Thurrock.

"All members have expressed their desire to support this and, as Cllr Coxshall has stated, 'if the Thameside complex was transferred to the community, it will not only save the council money, but would improve the arts and cultural offer of the borough. He also stated: 'The right financial support would have to be put in place to ensure the success of this project in the long term'.

"The Thameside Complex has not yet been saved.

"As you can imagine it has been quite some journey these past 20 week and we are aware that our governance is currently what we would describe as 'credible' but our plan is to make it 'incredible'.

"We will need your help with this"

"Our original outline business plan was well-received, and we believe the figures are about right in that this building costs the council about £647,000 per year and our plan will enable us to do this cheaper.

"We subsequently have met with other directors at the council, as well as officers, museum staff, library staff and artists. Indeed, there are 150 children working on their own business plans for the building as we speak.

"We have invested community money and the final business plan is being worked on tirelessly.

"As part of this we need you to understand that this is a partnership between community, officers and members. We want you to have a role in our governance going forwards, but your democratic mandate is at the fore when supporting us in this endeavour.

"Our consultation has included as diverse a community as possible. Everyone is entitled to a voice and - trust me - we have been listening.

"Our business plan is based on the three pillars of governance, transformation and finance - sounding boards will ensure the continual engagement with all the cultures within our community.

"We know that being born with two ears and one mouth is the correct ratio - we are still listening. Talk to us! The saving of this building for the community of Thurrock is crucial.

"We have been overwhelmed by Thurrock's outpouring of love and understanding of the role arts and culture will play as the borough expands and supports its citizens. The governance, conversations and actions will continue onwards.

"We are very excited to have our business plan ready for you at the end of March, but we wanted to be clear that this will not only be transformational, but it also needs to be sustainable. "We think there are clever ways of using your money to lever in even more money.

"But the very starting point will be a need to ask for some of your transformational funds to help us on this journey together. So be prepared for our ask - ideally in your June meetings. The decision will then be yours.

"We want to go on this cultural journey with you together and are working tirelessly to get it over the line."

At last night's cabinet Cllr Coxshall, whose full response can be viewed in our video, said: "I'd like to apologise to cabinet that we haven't got to the stage that I was really hoping for. That the Thameside would be moving to a new era.

"But, I think we have moved far enough and we just need to do a little bit more to get something really good."

He referred to Mr Woodbridge's statement and said: "So I would really ask for that small extension to make sure that we get the real good deal that we need to give that next generation the opportunity to make sure we get the best culture opportunity we can.

"There is a cost implication.

"I am sorry. I was really hoping we could have this sorted by the 31st of March but let's hope we can have that last throw of the dice and try and get it over the line and make sure that we get something really special."

Cllr Deb Huelin, who is the communities portfolio holder, said: "There has been some really constructive conversations above the table. It's moving forward.

"It has been a steep learning curve for everybody that's been round that table and a little bit more time to get those dots in a row, to make those right decisions, is the right thing to do."

It seemed Cllr Coxshall was referring to the council's changed financial commitment and availability of enough money, when he concluded: "The asset is really important to us. To move forward it underestimated that this is a voluntary group and the help they really need to make sure we get this right.

"We all want to have an agreement, it's just making sure that it's watertight and legally onside for this council, this is what the delay is."