Arts project has 'cost extra £3m'

The Public project went into administration in 2006

A council has admitted it had to add a further £3m to complete an arts complex project in the West Midlands.

The Public in West Bromwich, which opened last month two years late, was nearly £15m over budget. The project went into administration in 2006.

Sandwell Council leaders said taxpayers would not be affected.

The total costs of the project, which includes a theatre and interactive gallery, have reached about £56.9m, £18m of which came from the council.

The interactive gallery has not yet opened.

'Major projects'

Speaking about the extra £3m, after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the council's deputy leader Steve Eling said: "We had to instruct officers to let the contracts to complete the building.

"(That was) in order that we could get it open and for the council not to face financial penalties in terms of European funding and Advantage West Midlands funding that would have actually cost the council paying £13m back to them."

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The total cost of The Public has reached about £57m

"We have got sufficient money within our capital programme to be able to fund that (the £3m), without it impacting on the council tax payers or on any other major projects."

The Public scheme went into administration in 2006 when it was being run by the private sector, the council said.

A spokesperson for The Public said it was operated and owned by the council and the gallery.

The gallery will charge a £6.95 entry fee, and is funded by the Arts Council.

The Public includes performance spaces, a recording studio, offices and a cafe.

Councillor Tony Ward, from the Conservative opposition group, said: "I personally think at the time when they bailed The Public out they really shouldn't have done."

He said for the millions of pounds spent there could have been state-of-the-art swimming baths, a health and sport centre for young people and "a proper picture house, a proper theatre".