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Annie Whitfield, Valerie Ottaway, Leslie White, Peter MacKenzie and Heidi Jeynes perform in 2017 for ‘Murder At Checkmate Manor’ at the Little Theatre. She said a hard decision needed to be made by the council, whether that was to knock the building down or fix it. Larsen said she was concerned at a lack of suitable facilities for groups to use if the theatre closed, which the council acknowledged in its latest long-term plan. In 2018, the council committed $200,000 out of $1.4m-$1.6m needed for seismic-strengthening. This did not include an additional $1m later estimated for upgrades to the dilapidated interior.
A report to the council’s audit and risk committee’s meeting on Thursday predicted a $100,000 deficit for the year, well down on the about $340,000 expected when budgets were set. Councillor Andrew Quarrie doesn t sit on the committee, but turned up on Thursday to question officials about the nursery s performance. However, he was told his questions could relate only to the information before the committee and a fuller discussion would have to be added to the agenda for its next meeting, in August. Quarrie said a three-month delay was unacceptable and the latest planting season would be finished. “I’m disappointed at the length of time it’s taken to come to a formal committee. The nursery is haemorrhaging money and we’re not given the opportunity to dissect it.”