Leeds council to ‘consider its options’ over Welcome to Yorkshire bailout money

It follows a meeting of decision-makers at neighbouring Wakefield Council who, against officer advice, decided against providing its share of taxpayer cash, which the company claims it needs to continue operating.

WTY is in dire financial straits – its chairman Peter Box warned councils earlier this summer that it would have to close without them collectively coming up with a £1.4m emergency payout.

But Wakefield Council’s cabinet members this week decided that its £77,000 share of the money would be better spent locally.

This has led to speculation about whether other councils will follow suit, but Leeds City Council has claimed it has still not decided whether it will provide extra cash for the agency.

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “We note the announcement made by Wakefield Council today in relation to future funding for Welcome to Yorkshire.

“We will be seeking a discussion with our West Yorkshire local authority partners to consider our options and to agree our next steps moving forward.”

At a virtual meeting on Tuesday, Wakefield councillors said they did not think WTY, whose former chief executive Gary Verity was forced to resign last year after an expenses scandal, offered value for money.

Council leader Denise Jeffery (Lab) said: “I don’t feel at this time it’s opportune for us to (pay the money).

“We’re in a situation we’ve never seen before with our funding and I feel we’d be better keeping this money in-house.

“I think it’s important we keep money in this district.

“It’s not that we don’t support Welcome to Yorkshire and we hope they thrive.

“We’ll continue to pay our subscription along with everyone else but I think at this moment in time we’re not going to put any more money into it.”

Leeds City Council was asked back in July whether a decision had been made on the extra funding, but confirmed no decision had yet been made. However, senior members of the council said WTY would be “more humble” in future.

Council deputy leader James Lewis (Lab) said during a scrutiny board meeting on July 22: “A lot of councils in Yorkshire have indicated that they would like the work Welcome to Yorkshire does to continue.

“We haven’t made a final decision on funding Welcome to Yorkshire. I hope nobody is working under the impression that a decision has been made.

“We attended a meeting, and their approach going forward will be much more down to earth and humble than it has been in the past.”