COUNCIL leaders have defended the appointment of a £400-a-day consultant to save Bolton's cash-strapped Octagon Theatre.

But they have vowed to keep the financial situation at the theatre "under close scrutiny" for the next few months.

The BEN revealed on Monday that the theatre's new project manager is freelance arts consultant Alun Bond, who, along with board members, masterminded the business plan to save the Octagon.

It included provision for redundancies of 18 theatre staff.

It emerged at a council management and finance committee meeting yesterday that the authority did know that the business plan included a maximum £15,000 for a project manager. Details of how it would be paid were left to the Bolton Octagon board.

Labour Cllr Peter Johnston admitted that if he had known it was what he termed part-time, he would have been making the same noises the BEN was making.

But council leader Cllr Bob Howarth defended the appointment, saying: "There were very few people suitable for this position. He is highly recognised for his theatre knowledge and it was probably a sensible decision. The mechanism is now in place to make sure that the theatre goes forward.

"The alternative was for the theatre to close."

Cllr Guy Harkin, deputy leader, said the fee was not out of the ball park for fees which consultants can command.

Mr Steve Arnfield, director of finance, added that the council would monitor the implementation of the business plan.

He said: "If there is any variation, we would be the first to know."

And Tory deputy leader Cllr John Walsh called for full reports back from local authority members of the Octagon board to keep councillors fully informed.

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