The taxpayer will keep an eye on this for years yet

The concept of making over the dilapidated pavilion to a non-profit trust was "sold" to the public on the basis that it would enable Lottery cash to be garnered for much-needed restoration and largely relieve Rother taxpayers of what had become an intolerable financial burden.

Thankfully, the pavilion has now benefited from millions in restoration aid.

But, as this week's announcement on the proposed new grant agreement makes clear, Rother is now having to commit itself to more than 3m of support for the pavilion trust over the next six years.

If it doesn't, then the Arts Council won't stump-up its share in shoring-up the Trust.

And if that happens then the whole pack of cards comes tumbling down. If the Trust were unable to continue then the entire responsibility would be handed back to - guess who - Rother taxpayers.

In order to obtain Lottery funding, it was necessary for Rother to agree to a major policy change to transform the pavilion into a regional centre for the visual arts.