The latest developments in the Friarsgate project will be discussed by councillors this week – but the public will be barred from the debate.
Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet will explore a report on the long-awaited project tomorrow (December 5).
But the agenda for the meeting has revealed no members of the public or media will be permitted to be present for that section of the discussions.
A council spokesperson said: “The report to Cabinet on Friarsgate is not open to the public and press because there will be commercially sensitive information shared at the meeting, including financial and legal matters.”
The Friarsgate redevelopment has been a long time coming, with a council report in June admitting delays to the project had been “disappointing”.
The same report also claimed work would start on the scheme before the end of 2017.
Other confidential items will also be on the agenda at tomorrow’s meeting, including leisure services and plans to spend “in excess of £50,000 on consultants for a planning appeal”.
The decision to hear the Friarsgate update behind closed doors follows previous criticism for the council when it opted to discuss the future of car parking charges and a relocation of the Tourist Information Centre away from public eyes earlier this year.
