BACKBENCH city councillors have backed the decision to hand the management of the Swan Theatre over to Huntingdon Hall.

But at a meeting last night members of the community services policy and review committee sent a clear message to the cabinet that they were still unhappy at being left out of the process.

Following lengthy scrutiny of the preferred bid and how it was chosen Labour councillor Roger Berry, who "called in" the decision last month, proposed a resolution recommending that the council enters a three-year contract with Huntingdon Hall.

But he added that members of all political parties should have been involved in the process sooner.

However, this did not receive unanimous support from committee members.

Worcester Mayor, Coun Robert Rowden said he was sorry to see "gesture politics" enter the resolution.

"The important thing now is not to look back, but to look forward and get on with the very good things that have been presented to us tonight," he said.

During the scrutiny exercise Huntingdon Hall director Chris Jaeger outlined his bid, which will see the theatre managed by the same board that currently runs Huntingdon Hall, under the name of Huntingdon Arts.

"I believe we know the local audiences and we are best placed to make the Swan Theatre a healthy part of the arts scene in Worcester again," he said.

He revealed that a programme of events was already being drawn up to follow the 16 weeks of amateur productions due to start on Tuesday, April 29 and added that he was in negotiations with a London-based producing company interested in preparing and premiering its touring productions at the Swan.

"It would give us a producing theatre in the city without the cost," he said.

Concerns were raised about the cost of maintaining the building, which for the first time, will become the responsibility of the council.

Philip Betts, the council's director of corporate services, told the committee that the day-to-day cost was estimated at £8,000 a year.

However, a survey of the property to identify any immediate works had not been possible because the current Swan board has not yet surrendered the keys.

The board met last night to discuss an offer by the council, which if accepted means the keys would be handed over on Thursday.

The committee's resolution will go before the cabinet when it meets tonight to make a final decision on the theatre's future.