At Bradford Council's Full Council meeting last night Councillor Debbie Davies, councillor for Baildon Ward, asked
"How do I explain to Baildon residents that city centre projects are allowed to go tens of millions of pounds over budget while there is not enough money for Baildon's promised new library?"
"Would the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport please confirm why the previously not for publication documents relating to Bradford Live have not, now that the NEC era is over, been released into the public domain, as there should no longer be any reason for commercial sensitivity and it is time for the Controlling Group [Labour] to finally start being more open towards opposition councillors and the wider public about how the Council’s Executive is agreeing to spend millions of pounds behind closed doors?
Response
"We have been as transparent as we possibly can be about Bradford Live but have been guided by legal advice on the documents we can make public and on what the council has been able to say to date. If you can let the City Solicitor know a little more specifically which documents you are interested in, the City Solicitor will consider whether commercial confidentiality still applies under the Access to Information rules set out in the constitution."
Councillor Alex Ross Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning & Transport, also said that there was still council commitment regarding the Library Project for Baildon. Councillor Debbie Davies said
"I am pleased Alex has given this commitment to Baildon but I have serious concerns that I can't see anything happening any time soon and the longer the former Baildon Club remains empty the more it will fall into disrepair and cost more to refurbish. The City Centre still seems to be their only real focus.
They now have the money from the sale of the Ian Clough Hall [estimated to be around £1million]. This money should be staying in Baildon."
