Harrogate borough councillors have voted to spend £1 million on design costs ahead of a potential £47 million investment in the town’s convention centre.
A meeting of the full council approved the spend as part of a planned phased renovation of the nearly 40-year-old centre.
The money will be spent on feasibility studies and professional fees for design ahead of a two phased redevelopment of the venue. A report on the business case for potential investment will return to the council at a later date.
Most of the £1 million cost would be borrowed, though council officers said that no sources of funding have yet to be identified.
Meanwhile, a confidential cabinet report leaked to the Stray Ferret last week warned the centre “will not survive” unless councillors approved the project.
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But some councillors from the surrounding district said the investment would not benefit their towns.
Paula Lorimer, director of the convention centre, said that it was important that the council “looked forward” and invested in the HCC.
She said:
“The district has had a taste of what it would be like without a convention centre
“Many businesses rely on us and many jobs will be created as part of the convention centre.”
Graham Swift, cabinet member for resources, said he understood that some people were concerned about coronavirus but added that the plan would consider the future.
He said:
“I know that some councillors have expressed some concern around that.
“But this business plan has made it clear that the future plans will be in consideration of that fact that the world will be in a different spot.”
But Cllr Pauline McHardy, independent Ripon councillor, told the full council meeting that areas outside of Harrogate will be “short changed” by the move.
She said:
“I think you can flower this up as much as you want, this is the first step to spending £47 million.
“There is going to be a large amount of money that the council tax payers are going to have to find.”
