CONWY is still refusing to release a business case for a multi-million-pound plan to close Llandudno’s Mostyn Street library and move the service to Venue Cymru, raising fears amongst concerned councillors.
Last week Cllr Harry Saville criticised the council for not producing a full business case for a scrutiny committee to study before cabinet voted to push on with the project.
The plans to move the library from Mostyn Street to Venue Cymru would also see the Llandudno theatre “modernised”, including its technical infrastructure, with the seating and air handling system in the auditorium replaced.
If funded, the council says the project would see the tired-looking theatre’s future “safeguarded” as a cultural hub.
But at a special economy and place overview and scrutiny committee on July 2, Cllr Chris Hughes proposed councillors backed the plan for the library move, saying: “I do so on the basis that Charlie (leader Cllr McCoubrey) has promised a satisfactory business case will be provided… would be expected.”
This proposal was voted through by the committee before cabinet then also voted to rubberstamp the £10m UK Government-funded Venue Cymru Futures project.
At the cabinet meeting, councillors were given a sheet listing the theatre’s utility bill estimates, maintenance costs, and predicted additional income.
Despite this, a full business case is yet to be produced.
The sticking point seems to be that the proposal put forward by Cllr Hughes wasn’t read out in its full form by Conwy’s legal officer before the scrutiny vote.
Backbench councillors, though, remain concerned that if the UK Government, which is currently assessing the bid, gives the project the green light, the eventual upkeep of the regenerated Venue Cymru will end up being footed by council tax payers.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service requested the business case from Conwy, but the council refused to produce it.
A spokeswoman for Conwy County Council commented: “It’s not appropriate to share the detailed grant application (“Business Case”) whilst it is still under consideration by the grant-awarding body.
“Detailed financial information, which supported the summary information in the report, was presented to cabinet when they considered the Venue Cymru Futures (VCF) project on 8 July and voted to approve the draft plans. This financial information was also circulated to all elected members.”
Cllr Louise Emery criticised the council for again refusing to release the business case.
“If cabinet is suggesting that one sheet of A4 is enough financial information for them to make a decision, then this is a complete joke,” she said.
“They need to understand they are making a decision that will have an impact for years to come. The sheet councillors were given was not detailed. It was speculative in terms of what costs may be in the future. This is not how councillors should be making such important decisions.”
She added: “By lacking that detail and foresight, the consequences of accepting this grant and building this building are we don’t know the long-term costs, which could affect council budgets and potentially council tax.”
Despite the potential millions of pounds of investment, hundreds of Llandudno residents opposed the move as part of a public consultation.
Shopkeepers on the high street, backed by Mostyn Estates, also fear a reduced footfall in the town centre.
