NEWPORT’S Riverfront Theatre should be included in a new trust which is set to run the city's sporting sites.

The findings of the Riverfront Policy Review Group, set up to review the options available for the future delivery of the Riverfront Theatre Service, recommend that the Riverfront is incorporated into a trust currently being established for the city council’s Sport and Leisure Service.

Under the proposal the Council would transfer the management and operation of the Riverfront Theatre to a newly-established Not for Profit Distributing Organisation (NPDO) The council would continue to determine the strategic priorities for the service through a managed agreement. The council and the NPDO would enter into a legal agreement to govern the new arrangements and to review the scheme.

The council has already approved the created of an NPDO for the Sport and Leisure Services which is due to be set up next month and become active on April 1 2015.

Including the theatre would maximise the financial and tax benefits and reduce the fixed management costs of the organisation, whilst avoiding additional one-off costs of a Riverfront only (NPDO) Based on the evidence the group received it is recommending that the Riverfront be included in the Non-Profit Distributing Organisation in order to save £300,000.

The Riverfront has been directly managed by Newport City council since it opened in 2004 at a cost of £16million. Last year it was used by 90,174 people, with an estimated further 20,000 using the café, the art galleries and other casual use of the building.

In 2013/14 its turnover was £1,175,938, of which £310,753 was Newport City Council investment. The remaining £865,184 income came from grants, sponsorship, ticket income, hire fees, workshop fees, the café and merchandise.

The findings of the review will be presented to the Committee by the Head of Continuing Learning and Leisure at a meeting in the Civic Centre on November 26.