AN strategy could be created to outline council spending on the arts in the Malvern Hills and at Malvern Theatres.

The idea is the latest to come out of a Malvern Theatres Working Group, which has met with representatives from amateur user groups of the venue.

Working group member Coun Tom Wells said: "The key players in the local arts world left us in no doubt as to their requirements - they want to see continued and guaranteed community and amateur access to the Forum and Festival theatres."

He said the group was also interested in having a greater interest in the Theatre Trust and in finding ways to resolve a £600,000 shortfall with Malvern Hills District Council.

The shortfall comes from an overspend on the project to refurbish the Malvern Theatres.

To that end it was felt arts strategy would be beneficial in giving a framework to spending, attracting grants, protecting amateur groups and developing the diversity of activities and events.

He said: "Malvern Hills District Council can't invest £200,000 a year in something if there isn't a framework in which to operate.

"We think there needs to be a framework that dem-onstrates what MHDC's commitment to the arts really is.

"That also might help trigger funding from higher authorities and put our commitment to the theatres in context."

The working group's set of recommendations relating to the future of Malvern Theatres will go before MHDC's full council on November 25.