BRADFORD Council has revealed how much public money it spent on "legal process" for Bradford Live over an eight-month period.

The Council has finally confirmed to the Telegraph & Argus it incurred costs of £198,614.22 in relation to the "legal processes" between January and August 22 of this year.

According to the Council, the sum "represents good value for money for the taxpayer" in the context of the settlement reached with the NEC Group - the terms of which remain commercially confidential.

Council and Bradford Live representatives repeatedly said "the legal processes relating to handover to the NEC Group are progressing" - before it was announced last month that the NEC Group had pulled out of the £50.5 million scheme.

In August, the Telegraph & Argus asked the Council's press office questions over how much public money the authority had spent in relation to the "legal processes".

The questions were not answered at that stage - so the T&A submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request.

The Council initially said the information requested "may need to be withheld" under a section of the FOI Act - but it has now finally provided it.

The Council's full response said: "Presuming 'legal processes' relates to any and all legal fees incurred by the Council in connection with Bradford Live, we have incurred costs of £198,614.22 during the period of January 2024 and August 22, 2024. 

"Inevitably given the amount of money involved and the complexity of the contract between Bradford Live and NEC Group, discussions over the potential settlement to agree the release of NEC Group from the contract would require expert external advice.

"However, this figure is made up of a range of legal work connected to Bradford Live and its completion and does not simply relate to the agreed settlement. 

"Nonetheless, the Council is satisfied in the context of the settlement reached with NEC (the terms of which remain commercially confidential) that this represents good value for money for the taxpayer."

On September 19, it was announced that the Birmingham-based NEC Group had exited the Bradford Live scheme and a search for a new operator for the venue had begun.

Bradford Live had previously been expected to launch around this time of the year, with those behind the scheme claiming it would be a "world-class entertainment centre".

A Council spokesperson said on September 19: "Further updates, and a new date for opening, will be provided when a new operator is confirmed."