GUIDELINES for how events organised by council chiefs should be staged at York’s revamped Barbican centre are set to be drawn up.

The Paragon Street venue reopened in May following a £2 million refurbishment, bringing an end to its years in the doldrums, and is now under the control of new operators, SMG Europe.

The entertainment company’s lease from City of York Council sets four days aside every year for the authority to use free of charge, with two of these being reserved for the Festival of Remembrance and York’s Community Carol Concert.

And the council’s cabinet member for leisure, culture and social inclusion, Coun Sonja Crisp, will next week be asked to agree a policy for how the two remaining concessionary days should be filled.

A report by Gill Cooper, the authority’s head of arts, said a set of criteria was needed because there “may be a significant demand” for the free days, and that any proposed events must “provide activities or entertainment which appeal to and will attract the widest cross-section of the local community”.

They will also have to be open to everybody and support campaigns or programmes run by the council, while the choice will also be made based on whether they provide opportunities for residents to get involved, the quality of the artistic programme and whether they make a financial contribution to the authority’s work.

Under the terms of the lease, SMG is to provide backstage and front-of-house facilities, technical equipment and stewards for the concessionary days, with the council paying the company ten per cent of ticket receipts and three per cent credit card commission.

The authority also has to meet the costs of any extra staff required and marketing.

The new-look Barbican officially reopened with a concert by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in May, after a pre-opening charity gig by York party band Huge raised more than £7,000 for good causes.

Singer Morrissey played the venue’s most high-profile gig so far last month, and the UK Snooker Championship is to return later this year.