Mayor reveals RICC cash
THE Riviera International Conference Centre has received more than £1.5million of taxpayers' money in the past two years, mayor Gordon Oliver has confirmed.
His response came after opposition councillors challenged the decision to give the centre more, not less, funds as the council faces £11million cuts.
Mayor Oliver said that in 2010/11, it received £752,000 — in 2011/12 £632,000 and a further £150,000 to 'assist the centre in its short-term financial position'.
He said the proposed £200,000 increase for 2012/13 depends on discussions with the new board expected to be elected in the spring.
Cllr Ruth Pentney, who had asked for the figures at full council, queried how much the mayor was prepared to spend before saying 'enough was enough'.
Mayor Oliver said he thought the board should have time to establish itself.
He said the centre employed 150 staff and had a community pool used by 100,000 people.
"You have to look at the long-term benefits to the Bay of the centre," he said.
4 Comments
by Karen362
Saturday, February 11 2012, 1:08PM
“As a bit of constructive criticism, the main hall could do with a lick of paint and some new flooring.”
by clubmykonos
Friday, February 10 2012, 10:05AM
“The RICC is a commercial diaster and has cost the rate payers twenty Million pounds plus CLOSE IT Nick Bye got this one right REMEMBER CORAL ISLAND”
by nicold
Thursday, February 09 2012, 10:28PM
“The RICC is a community swimming pool and as such, should be subsidised by the Council. Health is a priority and should be invested in. The Conference Centre is another matter!”
by DavidPBrooks
Thursday, February 09 2012, 8:43PM
“According to the Mayor the whole of Torbay uses the RICC community pool. No way, what is meant is that a number of people have used the pool 100,000 times in the year and, assuming that other users of the RICC pay a break even rate, each time a pool user enters the pool the local taxpayer is subsidising their price of entry to the tune of £7.50.”