The council has agreed to replace the rigging of a Bolton town centre theatre after it failed last year.
The Albert Halls, located in the town hall, is one of the borough’s best locations for plays, pantos and music shows.
But when it underwent a major refurbishment in 2016, the theatre rigging system was not replaced.
Eight years later, in 2024, the system failed and a temporary system had to be put in place for the year’s panto season.
A report to the council's executive cabinet member for culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub, said that there were only two companies in the “specialist niche market” who could provide the rigging.
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The report explained the work needed is “specialist, niche and time sensitive”, needs to be made “bespoke” for the theatre – and all parts sourced in time for early August during a break in the theatre programme.
It also said that the replacement was needed for “urgent health and safety reasons”.
Cllr Ayub had to award a direct grant to the provider due to the cost of the contract – £68,764.29.
He also agreed to delegate authority to the director of corporate resources to negotiate and finalise a contract for the installation.
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Corporate reserves funding will be used to fund the contract with Creative Technical Installations Limited supplying and installing the rig system.
The council said that the quotation offered by the company was the “lowest” and “satisfied the value for money test”.
They said that the theatre rig’s replacement “would enable the service to continue to deliver a first class quality venue and investment in the Albert Halls complex for the future".
