ALL WE KNOW - Basildon Council has taken ownership of town centre cinema, Empire.

Yesterday, epresentatives of Basildon Council recovered possession of the cinema complex at East Square, Basildon, thereby forfeiting the lease with Empire Cinemas.

Here is everything we know about the situation: 

On July 7, Basildon Council Basildon Council received notification that Empire Cinemas Group (UK) Limited had entered administration.

Since then, the council has been closely monitoring the situation in order to better understand the implication on the Basildon development. 

As of Thursday, August 24, the council had received no formal notification of any significant developments and thereby began formal proceedings to safeguard the premises and protect the interests of the council and local taxpayers.  

After now taking up the ownership of the cinema, Basildon Council will now begin the marketing process in order to secure a new operator for the cinema.

Councillor Andrew Baggott, leader of Basildon Council, said: "It is so important to me that we protect the taxpayer's investment in this development and bring about a swift resolution to the uncertainty created by Empire Cinemas going into administration.

“A number of parties have registered their interest in the development, and today's action allows us to open up negotiations and start proceedings to get the development back on track.”

Craig Rimmer, councillor responsible for economic stimulus and tourism, added: “We have taken the action to protect the council’s asset.

“It is important that we have a cinema in the town centre there, so we are quite positive about the moves we have taken. “It is definitely positive news and a robust move by the council.”  

Bosses add that a report will be presented with prospective tenants at a future meeting of Basildon Council's Cabinet. 

The new £25 million cinema complex, at East Square, had been hit with half-a-dozen delays over the last 18 months, but the cinema was due to be opened by Empire this summer.

However, in July Empire announced the cinema chain had entered administration and six cinemas are shutting.

The chain was also set to open a new cinema at the controversial £70 million Seaway leisure complex on Southend seafront.

That project was put on hold in December after economic turmoil “wreaked havoc” on potential investors.