Further to my blog earlier this week about the way ahead for the The Forum music centre in Darlington, which is under threat because of a funding crisis.

I'm pleased to say a joint statement has now been released by Darlington Borough Council and Humantics - the 'community interest company' behind The Forum - setting out a way forward.

It involves the council paying for an independent review of the business plan and further ways of supporting The Forum to give it the best possible chance of surviving.

As a member of the Humantics board, I am fully behind this joint statement and I can assure everyone that a great deal of effort is going on behind the scenes to save The Forum.

The public response in emails and letters to The Northern Echo is the biggest I can remember over one single issue so no one has been left in any doubt about how important it is to find a solution.

Fingers crossed, but I believe we are making real progress.