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# Lib Dem councillor calls for reduction of taxpayer funding for the Lichfield Garrick
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/lib-dem-councillor-calls-for-lichfield-garrick-to-reduce-reliance-on-taxpayer-funding/
- Published: 2019-02-06T10:05:00.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-06T15:18:28.000Z
- Description: A Liberal Democrat councillor says the subsidy given to the Lichfield Garrick needs to be reduced immediately.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 18:23, News

A Liberal Democrat councillor says the subsidy given to the Lichfield Garrick needs to be reduced immediately.

![The Lichfield Garrick](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/lichfieldgarrickimage.jpg)

The Lichfield Garrick

Cllr Paul Ray’s comments come ahead of discussion at Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet on 12th February where the partnership with the theatre will be reviewed.

The local authority currently makes an annual payment of £250,000\. Councillors will be debating whether to renew the agreement for the next two years.

![Paul Ray](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/paulray.jpg)

Cllr Paul Ray

Cllr Ray said the council needed to ensure active steps were being taken to make the theatre commercially independent.

“We have been campaigning and urging the Conservative district council over many years to ensure that The Garrick becomes more financially self-sufficient – and less reliant of the funding from the council taxpayers.   

“The Garrick is a great asset for the district but it receives a very large amount of funding from the council. It’s £250,000 of your council tax money this year – and this is just at a time when the Council is making cuts to its services.”

The councillor said the Lib Dems had proposed a three-point action plan:

- The Garrick to employ a full-time development officer to raise commercial and sponsorship income and grant funding from bodies like the Arts Council.
- Improve options for the Garrick to tap into the ‘conference economy’ and make use of the venue during the daytime.
- Generate more income through an improved food and beverage offering at The Garrick.

Cllr Ray added: “The Garrick management does need to take serious steps to reduce its reliance on this taxpayer funding and the Conservatives need to maintain pressure to ensure that that happens.”

“Local taxpayers deserve this.”