A COUNCILLOR has joined calls for transparency about the "legal processes" surrounding Bradford Live.

In recent weeks, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, and Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport - as well as a director of Bradford Live - have said "the legal processes relating to handover to the NEC Group are progressing".

Amid escalating uncertainty about the future of the taxpayer-backed £50.5 million venue - and doubts over the NEC Group's commitment to the scheme - the Telegraph & Argus asked the Council what further information it could give the public currently about the "legal processes" and how much money was going towards them, but the authority failed to provide answers at this time.

Cllr Mike Pollard, finance and projects lead for the opposition Conservatives on Bradford Council, said: "It's abundantly clear, from the consistently vague, patronising, autopilot responses of Cllrs Hinchcliffe and Ross-Shaw to the T&A's perfectly reasonable questions, that the Labour executive is intent on sticking to its position that releasing details of the 'legal processes' would not be 'in the public interest' even though they do interest the public - intensely.

"I am again calling on the leader of the Council and the portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport to quit the secrecy act - it is no longer tenable."

Cllr Pollard questioned whether the NEC Group might be "pondering" its involvement in Bradford Live as "the build cost, delivery date and entertainment scene goalposts have moved significantly" since 2018 - when it was stated in a press release that contracts had been exchanged between the Birmingham-based events company and developer Bradford Live.

He pointed out that nearby venues, such as the Piece Hall in Halifax, were attracting big audiences with high-profile acts.

He said he wondered whether Bradford Live "can now present a sustainable business case".

Earlier this week, Cllr Matt Edwards, leader of the Green Party group on Bradford Council, urged the NEC Group to "start being open with the people of Bradford about its intentions".

Cllr Pollard also told of his "alarm" after it emerged the Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA) national Great British Beer Festival Winter would be held at a venue in Rotherham next February, and not Bradford Live. CAMRA said it had faced "stonewalling" from the NEC Group.

The NEC Group did not comment for this article. A Bradford Council spokesperson again referred us to the brief statement issued last week by Cllr Hinchcliffe.