BURY'S Met arts centre has been forced to pull up its socks following a highly critical report into its operation.

An independent review commissioned by the North West Arts Board (NWAB) said the Market Street centre must improve in a whole range of areas.

The review found faults in the Met's artistic policy, staffing and management, and internal monitoring, and it expressed worries about the lack of a detailed business plan and the future financial viability of the cafe/bar.

Now Bury Metropolitan Arts Association, which is funded jointly by Bury Council and the NWAB, has drawn up a business plan for the next three years to tackle these areas.

The NWAB commissioned the report after concerns about the association's 1997/98 business plan.

It subsequently found that the Met had changed a number of its long-standing artistic priorities and it criticised its outreach and community work as "ad-hoc and opportunist".

Staffing and management was highlighted as a "major weakness", with board members lacking leadership skills.

The Met's financial position was also an "ongoing concern" for auditors. And they criticised the Met for failing to submit a Lottery application for further building improvements. The post of marketing manager had remained vacant and a grant from the NWAB was withdrawn due to concerns about the "quality of programming".

An action plan has now been drawn up by Met bosses, and Bury Council will monitor its progress.

It includes developing a "new and challenging" programme of events, and £2,000 will be set aside to develop rock, blues and jazz in the coming year.

There must be more emphasis on dance, literature and comedy, and on greater collaboration with the council's arts unit and local schools, colleges, and community groups.

Meanwhile, management, marketing and staffing problems will be tackled and the cafe service may be reduced or franchised.

Mr Alan Oatey, director of the Met, would not comment on the NWAB report directly but said: "At the end of the day it is what you put in front of people that counts, and if people are coming through the door then we must be doing something right.

"Five years ago we had a deficit in excess of £60,000 and year on year we have managed to reduce that. Attendances are increasing and we are introducing new things into the programme."

He called on financial backers to support the new business plan and added: "We have improved things such as the cafe and technical facilities and hopefully the funders will support us so that we can provide the quality of service the borough deserves."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.