MP demands audit into Bradford Live finances

An opening date for Bradford Live is still unknown

An MP is calling for external auditors to scrutinise how the £50m allocated for a live entertainment venue has been spent.

Bradford Live's operator NEC confirmed it had pulled out of the landmark project last week, leaving the venue without an opening date.

Robbie Moore, Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley, called the latest delay "sheer mismanagement" and said Bradford Council needed to be transparent about the use of "hard-earned" taxpayer cash.

The local authority said it was "frustrating" it had to remain so "tight-lipped", but it was intended to protect the interests of the venue and the council.

A spokesperson also said NEC's business plans have changed but the process is underway to appoint a new operator.

A key part of Bradford's plans for its UK City of Culture year in 2025, the 3,800-seat venue had been due to open in November.

But both the council and NEC have repeatedly refused to provide details on the venue's future in recent months.

Moore told the BBC: "What we need to see now is external auditors - fifty million pounds has effectively been allocated to Bradford Live and not been delivered.

"It's now time auditors step in and hold the decision-makers to account so we can get honesty about how taxpayers' money is being spent across the district."

He added: "This illustrates that Bradford Council is incapable of managing a key regeneration project that has been shrouded in secrecy."

Robbie Moore MP says local residents have been left without a "clear understanding" of what Bradford Council has been doing

Initially forecast to cost between £22m and £25m, the venue has been funded by about £44m from Bradford Council, with the rest coming from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the government and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The venue will be located in the former Bradford Odeon cinema building on Godwin Street, with construction work completed.

Opening shows due to take place in November were cancelled, with customers refunded.

"We've never had a clear understanding of what Bradford Council has been doing and we have found out now it is not going to open as the wider public expected," Moore said.

The venue has been allocated million of pounds of taxpayer's money

Senior jobs advertised for the venue also appear not to have been filled, six months on from when the vacancies closed.

When asked if the council had done sufficient research into whether the venue would be a success in the city, Moore said: "We need to make sure when public money is being spent on these projects, there is an end goal and a market that has been identified that can be reached.

"I suspect there are councillors knowing there was not the deliverability that could be achieved."

"We are asking questions and failing to get any response," he added.

Speaking last week, council leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: "We are now in a position to have further discussions with potential operators.

"We can’t say more about this at this stage given the commercially sensitive nature of discussions."

She added: “We are aiming to have the venue operational in 2025 to host events as part of Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture."

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