NORTON Town Council has agreed to provide £10,000 towards the development of the Milton Rooms in Malton over the next two years.

Members of the management committee, which runs the building in Market Place, want to move forward with plans to develop the facility and provide a full arts programme to attract audiences.

At last month's council meeting members were told by acting chairman Judy Cliff that the management committee wanted the Milton Rooms to become the arts hub for Southern Ryedale, but was struggling to run it without any financial support or any paid staff.

As well as employing someone part-time in the office to help market events and sell tickets, they were working with an architect to draw up plans for improvements to the building, including bringing the Assembly Rooms back into use, improving accessibility around the building, providing dressing rooms and replacing the toilets at and estimated cost of £200,000.

Councillor David Lloyd-Williams said it was an opportunity for the community to work together to revitalise the Milton Rooms.

"The management committee are getting their act together after a period of difficulty," he said.

"I feel we need to help by providing some financial support to enable them to take the facility forward. It is a focal point and helps bring people from Norton and Malton together and by giving this funding we are giving a 'thumbs up' to the Milton Rooms management committee."

Councillor Di Keal said the Milton Rooms had turned a corner under the guidance of acting chairman Judy Cliff.

"They have appointed an architect to look at the Assembly Rooms which will make a huge difference to the building," she said.

"I think they are starting to move on and with the community behind it the committee will continue to improve the building."

Deputy Mayor Antony Crozer said that while granting the funding it was also important to see what progress was being made.

"The Milton Rooms has been there for years and if it is going to be there for years to come it needs to be in a fit state and it is well used by the community," he added.

Last month councillors in Malton agreed to provide £5,000 for 2015/16, with a further £5,000 potentially to be agreed for 2016/17, subject to a progress review of the progress made during this year.