A CRUNCH decision looms to decide the future of the Sub Rooms in Stroud.

In October Stroud District Council set up a ‘task and finish’ group to consider the long-term of the Subscription Rooms, they also launched a public consultation to gather the public’s views.

Following this the group has recommended three options to take forward, which will be discussed at the SDC’s Strategy and Resources Committee meeting on Thursday, January 26.

The three options are keep the building under council control, allow another organisation to run the Sub Rooms and sell the building on the open market.

The Sub Rooms, built in 1834, is the only council-owned and run arts and entertainment facility in the district, however rising annually costs of £415,000 have put its future in the balance.

Councillor Steve Lydon, leader of SDC, said: “The initial survey showed that the Sub Rooms has a unique place at the heart of the district, however cuts in government funding for local councils are really beginning to bite so rigorous financial management is paramount in everything we do.

“We will be the first council in Gloucestershire to lose all of our revenue support grant from the Government, and in the financial year 2019/20 we will be paying over £500,000 back to the Government.”

As the Sub Rooms are registered as an ‘asset of community value’ SDC must formally publicise its ‘intention to dispose’ in order to explore each of the three options.

If councillors on the committee approve the options then an open day will be held in February to allow the public and community groups to see the information gathered so far and learn about the next stage of the review.

Anyone with questions about the review can contact Stroud District Council via subrooms.review@stroud.gov.uk

The final decision is expected to be made late in 2017.