Walsall Council: We did not do our sums over The New Art Gallery
Walsall Council has admitted it did not work out how much the proposal to close The New Art Gallery would cost the borough.
The revelation follows claims that it will cost more to pull funding than to keep it open.
Councillor Mike Bird, leader of the Conservative group, called the admission 'astonishing.' The latest twist comes as a huge demonstration is announced to take place outside the gallery next Thursday. Nationally renowned artists are expected to attend.
David Carver, chairman of Walsall Museums & Galleries Development Trust, wrote to the council earlier this month warning it had failed to take into account the cost of maintaining the empty building and its collection if the gallery were to close.
At Thursday's scrutiny committee, officers disclosed that the full financial implications of closing the gallery had not been investigated before it was put up for consultation as one of dozens of proposed cuts to save a further £86 million by 2020.
Councillor Bird said: "I'm astonished. It's imperative that the leader and cabinet members have all of this information, and it is absolutely reprehensible that someone didn't cost out the implications of the worst case scenario."
Questioning a stated £861,000 running costs figure, Councillor Bird argued that with rates and other payments taken out of the equation, the actual running costs of the gallery were £194,000.
"The point is well-made that to close it is not cost-effective," he said.
Gallery campaigner Roy Watson described the world-renowned gallery as 'Brand Walsall'. Addressing the council on behalf of Mr Carver, he said the arts venue was internationally acclaimed and had brought hundreds of thousands of visitors to the town, with local traders enjoying increases in takings of up to £4,000 a year.
The committee also heard an appeal on behalf of the Save The Libraries Committee not to close the borough's 15 branch libraries.
Campaigner Stan Zettie said: "If you take the libraries away, you are completely contradicting Walsall's corporate plan and destroying the borough's communities."
Council leader Sean Coughlan insisted the full cost of closing the gallery was known and reiterated it was not the local authority's intention to shut the building, only to gauge public opinion by putting it out to consultation.
The demonstration will start at 5pm.
Renowned artist Andrew Tift, born in Great Wyrley opposes the cut and is due to attend.
