MALVERN Hills District Council's nominated representative on the Malvern Theatres Trust, Coun Bryan Smith, has given the council two reports on the future of the theatre - but only after being given the all-clear from a standards watchdog.

Coun Smith, who received the ruling from the Standards Board of England and Wales last Friday, said he wrote the reports in April. He had not been allowed to table any questions, or do anything with them, after council officers went to the board to obtain a ruling over worries regarding his ability to debate and vote on the subject because of a possible conflict of interests.

The board has now ruled that he can do both, as long as he presents the options even-handedly.

Coun Smith said: "I've delivered two reports, one confidential and one not confidential, although I would rather my colleague councillors saw it first before it was made public."

He said it had been "ludicrous" that, after spending 18 months on the theatres board and being involved with the two plans, that he had been debarred from comment.

MHDC assistant chief executive Stephen Leese said officers had been concerned that, if Coun Smith took part in meetings regarding future management of the theatres, there could be a conflict of interest that contravened new code of conduct. He welcomed the Standards Board ruling.

The Ambassador Theatre Group and Malvern Theatres chief executive Nic Lloyd have submitted rival proposals to take over the management of the theatres from the council.

So far, three speakers have confirmed their attendance at a public meeting set up by the Malvern Gazette to discuss the future management of the theatres. They are Nic Lloyd, Clive Richards, chairman of Malvern Theatres Trust, and Chris Bassett, of Malvern Theatre Players. MHDC chief executive Chris Bocock said the council would also be represented. The meeting takes place at The Forum on Wednesday, July 24, at 7.30pm, and is open to everyone.

n Coun Tom Wells has been assured this week by acting-council leader Paul Cumming that the council and public will be allowed a full and open debate on the proposals, at a special meeting if necessary.

See page 6.