THE future of arts events in Northwich has been saved after the town council voted to reinstate the charity's funding.

The council had not paid DAN (Development of the Arts in Northwich) a penny for this financial year after repeated requests to see its accounts were ignored.

But at a meeting on Monday night, councillors decided to continue supporting - DAN provided the group commits to an agreement regarding the level of service it will provide.

Steve Sharman, chief executive of Northwich Town Council said: "It will be a plain agreement that everybody understands and will include seeing audited accounts. It may also require DAN to make monthly reports to the council."

If DAN accepts the agreement. it will receive £7,000 for the next financial year, starting on April 1.

DAN also receives £24,444 from the Arts Council and £4,500 from Vale Royal Borough Council.

Nick Hughes, director of DAN, has welcomed the town council's decision. He said: "We're absolutely delighted. We already have a funding agreement with the Arts Council and one with the borough council.

"Although Northwich Town Council has funded us for about 27 years, we've never had anything in writing before."

But the decision to provide the cash was only reached after a heated debate

at the town council meeting.

Clr Roy Cotterill, his wife Clr Lesley Cotterill and Clrs Dee and Brian Cooke opposed the motion to grant the group £7,000 after Clr Mr Cotterill's proposal to only award DAN £3,500 was rejected.

Clr Cotterill said: "I think £7,000 is too much. Everybody that goes on a DAN event has to pay, so the council taxpayers of Northwich are paying twice.

"I've started to call them desperate DAN."

This year, DAN managed to continue its wide range of arts programmes including lecture tours, children's workshops, coach tips and jazz concerts by dipping into its reserves.

Subsidy

Although only three quarters of the way through the year, 14,133 people have already taken part in DAN events. Last year 17,124 people went to 205 DAN events.

Nick Hughes said: "We ask people to pay because the grants don't cover the full cost of events. They are just a subsidy."

One satisfied DAN customer is Sally Hewson, of Wright Avenue, Rudheath. Her eight year old son Tom goes to DAN's Monday night dance and drama classes.

Sally said: "The classes are really good because they build up the children's confidence. Tom has been going for three years and still thoroughly enjoys them."

ecummins@guardiangrp.co.uk