THE future of Bromsgrove's showcase £2.8m arts centre is in jeopardy because of cashflow problems, the Advertiser/Messenger can exclusively reveal.

The Artrix was only opened in April, but tonight (Wednesday) the district council's cabinet meets behind closed doors to consider a plea from Councillor Bill Newnes, the chairman of the centre's operating trust, for an early injection of £30,000.

Cllr Newnes is asking that the previously guaranteed £120,000 a year shortfall deficit funding, already agreed by the council, now be paid quarterly in advance for ten years. This is to be backdated to April 1 this year.

The centre, in School Drive, is a joint venture with NEW College and was opened on April 7 by the Duke of Gloucester.

Bromsgrove Council gave the centre an immediate 'start up' grant of £40,000. A further £50,000 from the Oakalls estate developers for 'community use' was spent on film and sound equipment

Before building work began, in January 2003, the cabinet agreed to bail out the Artrix - up to a maximum of £120,000 a year, for ten years, if it got into debt over operating costs.

Last October, the cabinet considered, but threw out a report recommending the funding be paid every three months, in advance, for the first three years.

In a confidential letter to the council's chief executive Sue Nixon, Cllr Newnes (Broms Ind Group-Sidemoor) now says that the October decision needs to be reviewed to prevent the centre racking up huge debts and jeopardising its future.

And there is more bleak news. A confidential report to the meeting reveals cash needs to be spent on improvements to the building and a question mark hangs over whether it meets new Disability Discrimination Act requirements.

Several councillors have misgivings regarding the council's desire to keep the matter under wraps. Cllr Stephen Peters (Wythall Ratepayers and Residents Assn-Hollywood and Majors Green) said he is 'very disturbed' that councillors appear to have been kept in the dark over the finance issue and believes the matter should be brought into the public domain.

Labour group leader Cllr Peter McDonald (Waseley) was likewise scathing about the secrecy.

He said: "£90,000 has already been spent since the Artrix was built. There appears to a black hole looming into which thousands of pounds of tax payers money is being thrown. It is contemptible that the council should not come clean and discuss the matter openly.

"If it is to succeed the programme needs to be more imaginative to bring in customers," he added.

Cllr Newnes, not free to comment specifically, said much is being done to boost finance through attracting patrons and sponsors. The current programme caters for a wide range of tastes, he said.

"We have more than one hundred volunteer staff and with the goodwill of Bromsgrove people we are determined to make the Artrix work," he added.