A council meeting set to focus on the future of the Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone has been pushed back by a week because of the "ever-changing Covid-19 government guidance".

In November, Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) announced plans to terminate its contract with Parkwood Theatres, which has run the the Hazlitt since 2013, in an effort to save cash after the pandemic took a heavy toll on the authority's finances.

As well as many questions over the theatre's future, it led to fears over where community groups and clubs, such as the Hazlitt Youth Theatre, could go, under the plans.

Following furious public backlash and interventions from Maidstone MP Helen Grant and local councillors, the plans were halted in a knife-edge vote and the decision was deferred until an economic regeneration and leisure committee (ERL) meeting on January 19.

This was in order to "allow" more clarity on issues such as external funding and Covid-19 related developments.

But this crunch meeting has now been pushed back by a week, to allow work to be completed "on a number of options for the future sustainability" of the Hazlitt Arts Centre, the council said, and will instead take place on Tuesday, January 26.

Cllr Paul Harper, chair of the ER committee, which made the initial decision to terminate the contract said: “Maidstone Borough is working in partnership with Parkwood Leisure but it is clear that because of the ever-changing Covid-19 government guidance and restrictions, that some additional time is required to get the information that our decision makers will need to be sufficiently informed before making any further decisions.

"The information and business forecasts will help councillors weigh- up the various future options for the Hazlitt Arts Centre so it is vitally important that sufficient time is given to allow it to be prepared.”

Head to our politics page for expert analysis and all the latest news from your politicians and councils.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone