ARTS trustees have agreed unanimously to allow Conservative councillor Anna Bailey to remain on their board. Their decision, which they agreed was in the best interests of ADeC , came on Wednesday. Cllr Bailey s future with the arts development organis

ARTS' trustees have agreed unanimously to allow Conservative councillor Anna Bailey to remain on their board.

Their decision, which they agreed was in the "best interests of ADeC", came on Wednesday.

Cllr Bailey's future with the arts development organisation was thrown into doubt after she voted in favour of her ruling party on the district council to support a £70,000 cut in its budget.

But under its constitution ADeC must have a councillor on its board and members decided unanimously that Cllr Bailey was the best person for the job.

"It was great that the trustees gave me their unanimous support on what was a very difficult decision," she said. "Now I am looking forward to getting on with the job and pressing forward to achieve the best possible outcome for ADeC."

Jane Wilson, director of ADeC said: "The ADeC board wishes to have a positive and open working relationship with the elected members of the council so that decisions are made within a framework of long-term and sustainable forward planning.

"For this reason all the trustees agreed that it was in the best interests of ADeC that Cllr Bailey, as the appointed representative of East Cambridgeshire District Council and a valued member of the board, should continue in that role."

ADeC's future funding crisis comes into the spotlight again on Monday when members of East Cambridgeshire District Council's overview and scrutiny committee members meet to decide whether to allow more discussion on the grant cut.

They have the power to support the community services committee decision to cut 40 per cent from the arts' budget or send it back to the committee.

The decision, which leaves the future of arts in East Cambridgeshire hanging in the balance, prompted outrage from people across the district. They have added their names to a petition which will be handed in to the district council.

The petition is available to download from the ADeC website at www.adec.org.uk