Plan to secure £3m for The Public

The Arts Council had been providing £520,000 a year towards The Public

A business plan has been drawn up to secure the £3m offered as funding for a controversial arts complex.

The Arts Council withdrew most of its funding for The Public in West Bromwich in January as an interactive art gallery had not yet opened.

However, it did say it would provide a one-off £3m grant to try to open the whole arts complex to the public.

Sandwell Council is presenting the Arts Council with its business plan which will then be processed in July.

John Garrett of Sandwell Council said The Public was a massive asset which could deliver a wide ranging programme of cultural events and provide a focus for the town's regeneration.

"The new business plan will focus on maximising use of The Public by local people," he said.

The Arts Council had previously provided £520,000 a year to The Public but withdrew its funding saying that although the building was open, the interactive art gallery at the centre of the vision for The Public was not.

The building opened in 2007 and includes performance spaces, a recording studio, offices and a cafe.