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09
Apr
Almost £2 million of taxpayers' money has been spent on consultants to come up with plans to upgrade Harrogate Convention Centre that have now been scrapped.
North Yorkshire Council and its predecessor Harrogate Borough Council have hired various consultants since 2016 as part of the long running saga to redevelop the convention centre.
So far none of the work has been carried out and last month North Yorkshire Council revealed it had abandoned previous plans drawn up by Harrogate Borough Council and recruited another firm of consultants called 31ten to carry out 'soft market testing' on the future use of the events and exhibition complex.
North Yorkshire Council refused to reveal at the time how much it had paid the 31ten — prompting the Stray Ferret to submit a freedom of information request.
We asked not only how much had been awarded to the London firm but also how much had been spent on consultants for all work involving the possible upgrade of the convention centre.
The response said 31Ten had been paid £23,000 plus VAT for work that is expected to be concluded by 'late spring'. This figure pales in comparison to the overall sum awarded to consultants since 2016.
The freedom of information response said besides funding awarded to 31Ten "the remaining £1,948,590 relates to historic spend committed by Harrogate Borough Council".
Harrogate Borough Council was abolished a year ago and succeeded by North Yorkshire Council.
The response added:
North Yorkshire Council currently subsidises the convention centre to the tune of £2.7 million a year.
The centre opened in 1982 and has a 2,000-seat auditorium and 13,000 square metres of exhibition space.
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