Kirklees Council commits to back beleaguered tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire

Details seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) show that Kirklees decided in July to allocate £99,875 in surplus business rates.

The money was “to support WtY activity through the remainder of 2020/21, to enable it to continue to promote culture, tourism and the Yorkshire brand across the area, with consequential positive impacts for business growth and resilience.”

The payment was administered on the council’s behalf by Leeds Council by the end of July, leaving a balance of £79,000 to transfer across to Kirklees.

That figure was released in error by the council. The true figure can now be made public.

The original decision was taken on condition that it was jointly agreed by all West Yorkshire authorities.

It was determined that that element of the decision needed to be reconsidered due to the change in circumstances in that Welcome to Yorkshire was not being supported by all local authorities.

Councils in Wakefield, Hambleton and Ryedale voted not to hand over any additional funding.

They were responding to an appeal for a £1.4m emergency bail-out to help keep Welcome to Yorkshire afloat.

The total amount withheld was £164,000.

However Kirklees Council opted not to follow suit.

A decision taken on September 22 and published on the council’s website on the same day showed that the council was still prepared to commit the surplus of £99,875 to supporting Welcome to Yorkshire “on the basis that their role to champion the region as a destination is even more important in the current economic context as a result of Covid-19.”

It is almost three times the amount it paid to WtY in the four years from 2014.

The council says it remains committed to supporting WtY “alongside the vast majority of neighbouring councils”.

Kirklees Council has not responded to multiple requests to clarify how much it pays in annual subscriptions to Welcome to Yorkshire or whether the current funding represents a one-off payment which will be reviewed.

Welcome to Yorkshire has experienced well-documented financial troubles associated with the tenure of former chief executive Sir Gary Verity.

He resigned in March 2019 as allegations emerged over his expenses and treatment of staff.

In June the agency, which is a private company but receives millions in public funding each year, said it was seeking £1.4m from councils across Yorkshire.

That was due to a forecast £1m loss in the business rates it had been expecting following coronavirus and £400,000 less after suspending firms’ membership fees.

The cost to West Yorkshire councils was said to be £550,000.

Reacting to news of the funding the council’s Lib Dem group leader, Coun John Lawson (Cleckheaton), said: “If Welcome to Yorkshire didn’t exist it would have to be set up.

“Tourism in Yorkshire needs to be showcased now more than ever but the money needs to be used in a transparent and accountable way.

“There is a chance of a fresh start and it must include those in power having a grip on what’s appropriate and what’s value for money.”

Kirklees has featured in two of the four Tour de Yorkshire races so far – the 2017 event and the inaugural race in 2015.

Huddersfield was set to be a host location in 2020 until the coronavirus pandemic forced the postponement of the race.