Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet will discuss plans that could see them foot the £49million bill for Friarsgate this evening – but the talks will once again be held behind closed doors.
The local authority is debating the proposals after private funding for the long-awaited redevelopment scheme failed to materialise.
The plan has drawn criticism, but the Cabinet are set to make a decision on the idea tonight (June 12).
But the section relating to the controversial funding will be heard away from the eyes and ears of the media and members of the public.
It’s not the first time the council has kept Friarsgate talks hidden from public view – a move it also used in December.
The leader of Lichfield District Council, Cllr Mike Wilcox, has insisted no final decision has been made on whether or not taxpayer funding will be used to foot the bill.
“The majority of the major Friarsgate milestones are now in place, and we are working with U+I to assemble the final piece of the jigsaw, which is the funding to deliver the scheme,” he said.
“As part of this, councillors were informally briefed on the opportunity for the council to fund the scheme at a meeting on May 22.
“This is an approach that has been taken by a number of other councils across the country to successfully kick start major developments.
“No decisions have been made and the opportunity is being explored in greater depth as part of a programme of decision making.”
