A RECOMMENDATION to cease trading at Keighley's Civic Centre has been defeated by a small margin.

The proposal was put forward by Keighley town councillors Amjid Ahmed and Javaid Akhtar, who warned that the town council did not have enough money to pay for the centre.

Speaking at the latest town council monthly meeting, they called for a halt to trading at the centre's cafe, shop and bar, though agreed to an amendment to omit the police museum from their recommendation.

Coun Ahmed said: "It's been brought to our attention that the cafe, bar, shop and catering are in deficit. We don't have the money to cover running costs, and this has been ongoing for the last three years.

"The civic centre has been making a loss and has been eating into our reserves. There's no money left."

Ingrow resident Elizabeth Mitchell, of parishioners' campaign group Cavetown Council, warned the council that it did not have the authority to trade in the civic centre.

She said the council had no signed agreement with the Duke of Devonshire's Estate to vary the terms of a restrictive covenant and to allow them to trade in the building.

Coun Ron Beale said: "The civic centre was set up as a profit making business, but it's not. It's a loss making business which is costing the people of this town thousands."

Coun Gary Pedley demanded the committee in charge of managing the civic centre resign. He said: "The budget for the civic centre saw a £20,000 overspend last year, and our Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) has projected that there's going to be a £20,000 overspend this year.

"Who has given approval to overspend by £20,000? This is a breach of financial regulations."

Civic centre committee chairman Coun Peter Corkindale disputed the RFO's figures. "If you look at all the income streams of the civic centre we're actually £721 in the black," he said.

He acknowledged a lack of income from one element of the civic centre – the cafe – was a problem and suggested that this facility alone could be closed.

Coun Margaret Ward asked what would happen to the many community groups who use the civic centre if trading there was halted.

Coun Tony Wright said: "Yes we were sold it on the basis that it would make a profit, but it is a community asset and let's use it as a community asset. It's a fantastic building that would have trees growing out of a fallen-in roof if we hadn't bought it."

Coun Judith Brooksbank said: "On many occasions we have bemoaned the fact that Keighley is losing assets. Are we going to close down one of Keighley's assets when we can keep it open and make it a success? That's mad."

In a named vote the council agreed to continue trading. The recommendation put forward by councillors Ahmed and Akhtar was defeated by 13 votes to 10.