BRADFORD Council has said it needs more time to decide whether it is in the public interest to reveal how much taxpayers' cash has been spent on the Bradford Live project.

Last month, the Telegraph & Argus used the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to ask Bradford Council questions including "how much taxpayers' money has the Council so far spent in total on the Bradford Live project as a whole?" and "what is the current overall cost of the Bradford Live project as a whole?"

The T&A submitted this FOI request after it put the same questions to Bradford Council's press office and Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, executive member for regeneration, planning and transport at the authority and also a director of Bradford Live - but did not receive answers.

The Council has now emailed the T&A saying it holds the information requested - but it has "not yet reached a decision on where the balance of the public interest lies".

The Council apologised and said it hopes to fully respond by July 17.

The FOI request was submitted as questions continue about the NEC Group's involvement in the Bradford Live project - a scheme which is transforming the city's former Odeon building into a promised "world class entertainment venue".

In 2018, Bradford Council documents stated the Council had "committed to lending £12 million to the project with the loan repayments secured against NEC's rental".

A year later, the T&A reported that the overall cost of the Bradford Live project was put at more than £22m.

The Council's email to the T&A in response to its FOI request - which was submitted on May 21 - said: "I can confirm that the Council holds the information falling within the terms of your request.

"The (FOI) act obliges us to respond to requests promptly and no later than 20 working days after receiving the request. However, when a qualified exemption applies to the information and the public interest test is engaged, the act allows the time for response to be longer than 20 working days, and a full response must be provided within such time as is reasonable in all circumstances of the case. 

"Unfortunately, in this case we have not yet reached a decision on where the balance of the public interest lies. Please accept our apologies, we hope to have the response to you by July 17, 2024, although will endeavour to do so before this date.

"The specific exemptions the Council is considering in relation to your request are under Section 43 (commercial interests) and Section 22 (future publication) of the act."

According to Companies House, Bradford Live is a private limited company by guarantee, meaning it does not have shares or shareholders, with Bradford Council currently listed as the only 'person of significant control' for Bradford Live.

As previously reported by the T&A, Bradford Live has a long-term lease from the iconic building's owner, Bradford Council.

In 2017, Bradford Live announced the NEC Group had been chosen as operating partner for the major project, with the NEC Group stating it would take a 30-year lease on the building and invest £2m towards the conversion costs.

In December last year, a spokesperson for the NEC Group said: "Developer, Bradford Live, will be handing the venue over to operator, the NEC Group, by mid-2024, before the group completes the final fit out in the following months. The venue’s launch season will commence in autumn 2024."

However, the NEC Group has repeatedly declined to reaffirm its commitment to Bradford Live or answer key questions when approached by the T&A - while the first two acts announced at Bradford Live were cancelled last month.

Last week, the T&A spoke to Bradford Live director Chris Morrell, who said the old Odeon building "certainly will" open as an entertainment venue - but exactly when this would be was not confirmed.

Mr Morrell said the "finishing touches" were being applied to Bradford Live and added: "We're looking forward to showing it off to everyone.

"The scale and flexibility of the venue will make it the best of its kind in northern England.

"I think everyone will be astounded at how spectacular it is.

"It'll be a fabulous venue."