PARTIES involved in negotiations over the future of Malvern Theatres have promised a public consultation if a decision is made to move forward with the idea of a commercial takeover.

Despite rumours this week that a bid had been made for the complex, Malvern Hills District Council's theatre trust board representative Coun Bryan Smith denied any deal had been cut.

He said only that another date had been set for a further meeting.

"When you're having discussions of the sort we are having obviously there are meetings and discussions between the parties," he said.

MHDC chief executive Chris Bocock said talks with the Surrey-based Ambassador Theatre Group aimed to assess whether a takeover would be beneficial to Malvern, the council and the Malvern Theatres Trust.

The meetings began after an independent consultant carried out a Best Value review of council spending. With council costs for the theatre running at over £200,000 last year, it was suggested that management by a commercial operator might be more cost effective.

Mr Bocock said: "This is about making sure that the theatres continue to go from strength to strength. We've got to demonstrate to the Government that we're getting the best value we can from what we spend."

Coun Smith promised that when any decision was to be taken that the public would be made aware.

He said: "If the management of the theatres were to be transferred, there would be an argument for public consultation on that."

Malvern Theatres chief executive Nic Lloyd was unable to comment on the discussions, saying that he was "out of the loop".