A proposal to redirect £400,000 originally designated for cultural activities toward reopening a local waste facility is set to undergo further examination by elected officials.
Bradford Council’s Reform Executive previously approved plans to restore operations at the Sugden End site in Cross Roads, near Keighley, before the conclusion of the current year.
While the initiative received general support, questions emerged regarding the funding strategy.
The funding reallocation would effectively suspend support for cultural programming across the district.
Bingley Councillor Susan Fricker has formally challenged the executive’s decision through a call-in procedure.
The matter will now be considered by the Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee during its upcoming session on September 22.
This process will afford representatives from all political parties an opportunity to evaluate the proposals before determining whether to endorse the decision or refer it back to the executive for additional consideration.
The challenge lodged by Councillor Fricker centres specifically on the elimination of cultural funding rather than the tip reopening itself.
The £400,000 in question had been incorporated into a budget approved prior to May’s local elections.
This allocation was intended to facilitate events showcasing the district’s heritage, culture, and arts while stimulating increased activity in local commercial areas.
The funding was structured into two distinct allocations.
The first portion of £200,000 was designated for events programming, intended to enable community organisations to stage festivals, markets, and arts activities across the district.
This would encompass heritage initiatives, live performances, culinary events, and cultural celebrations aligned with community preferences.
The second £200,000 allocation was reserved for strategic assistance to cultural organisations responsible for delivering events, providing revenue support to help sustain their impact on district centres and high streets.
According to the call-in documentation, these funds were conceived to empower communities to stage local events, enhance visitor numbers to commercial areas, support independent traders, assist creative sector businesses, and strengthen civic identity.
The submission asserts that discontinuing this funding would cause significant harm to local communities, businesses, the creative industries, and the council’s standing.
It further contends that neither the report presented to the executive nor the subsequent meeting considered the consequences of terminating the funds, nor was any cost-benefit assessment undertaken.
The documentation also notes that alternatives for financing the household waste recycling centre proposals were not explored.
During the executive meeting, Labour group leader Councillor Imran Khan advocated for identifying alternative funding sources to restore the tip’s operations, arguing that the two objectives need not be mutually exclusive.
However, Council Leader Stephen Place maintained that resuming operations at the facility would benefit Bradford residents, with particular value for the Keighley area.