The Cabinet met to approve plans for a new theatre in Oldham and to 'dispel misinformation' about the Council's involvement over the Coliseum's imminent closure and its redundancy threat.

Oldham Council met on Monday evening with plans for a new £24m theatre, proposed on Union Street, top of the agenda.

Before the report was discussed, leader of the council, Amanda Chadderton, took questions from members of the public over the uncertain future of the Coliseum on Fairbottom Street.

READ MORE: 'Hands off': Hundreds pack into theatre with battle cry to 'save Oldham Coliseum'

The theatre may close at the end of the month following a rejected funding bid from Arts Council England which had concerns about the Coliseum's governance, financial viability and the state of the building itself.

The first question posed by a resident concerned the proposed capacity of the new theatre - 300 to 350 seats compared to the Coliseum's 525 seats.

She claimed this could result in an income loss of hundreds of thousands of pounds while Oldham town suffers from a decline in footfall.

Cllr Chadderton said the capacity aligns with similar theatres across the country but admitted the designs are still being finalised to ensure it remains profitable.

She added: "Running theatres and theatrical organisations are not the expertise of the local authority.

"We empty bins and we cut grass and we safeguard vulnerable people."

The council leader also said any theatre has to be sustainable and financially viable all year round - "and not just from one production a year", referring to the Coliseum's popular pantomime.

"Theatres have to evolve and they have to change", she added.

Besides, she claimed the council has also offered the Coliseum company a new events space in Spindles which will have a capacity of 750.

While it is hoped the 'new Coliseum' will open in 2026, the company said there are now at least 70 jobs at risk of redundancy. 

Kev Leach, technical manager at Oldham Coliseum, asked how the council was going to protect these staff, claiming there will be a skills shortage in the town as they will "move elsewhere".

"We struggle now to get a skilled workforce in Oldham because of the lure of Manchester", he added.

But Cllr Chadderton said that the decision falls with the Coliseum "alone" with it being a separate entity from the council.

She said: "The council has no say in any of those things."

The meeting further revealed Oldham Council has never reduced its funding to the Coliseum over the course of the past 10 years and that the 'partnership' - the council, Arts Council and Coliseum - have all been in agreement that a new building is needed.

The council leader said the Fairbottom Street theatre "is at the end of its lifespan", is "no longer fit for purpose" and to remain in the current building would cost "millions of pounds over the next few years".

She continued: "Oldham Coliseum has been saying to us for a decade that the building has come to the end of its life.

"The plan was always for the Coliseum to move out of that building.

"Unfortunately, changes in Arts Council funding has meant that has happened an awful lot quicker than anyone anticipated.

"I will not spend millions of pounds of taxpayers' money on something that is not financially viable.

"It would be absolutely reckless to do that."

The final nine questions were posed by Equity secretary, Chris Clarkson, concerning management at the future theatre, its financial liability and protecting jobs.

READ MORE: Equity's Coliseum questions to the Council 

The council leader admitted the council doesn't know "yet" if the current Coliseum team will manage the new theatre.

She also said: "To be blunt, it's not the responsibility of the council," when asked about how the team will survive until the new building opens. 

Councillor Abdul Jabbar added that £18m of the £24m theatre build will be coming directly from the council - the remaining £6m having been secured from the Towns Fund.

Councillor Shaid Mushtaq also voiced his support for the plan and commented that the Coliseum is "actually a dangerous place" after his recent visit.