Harrogate Borough Council opens investigation after leak of confidential convention centre report

Harrogate Borough Council officials are investigating after a confidential report on the town's convention centre was leaked.

The document - which reportedly contained details of the venue's finances - was leaked by an unknown individual last month.

Council leader Richard Cooper told a meeting last night that if the leaker was found to be from the Conservative group they would be expelled.

The council's Liberal Democrat leader Coun Pat Marsh also made a commitment to expel the leaker if they are found to be from her party.

Talks about bus top parade for Harrogate Town's football heroes

Coun Cooper said: “I think it is important that as leaders of groups we demonstrate that we do not support leaking of confidential information, particularly when the information damages the economy of the district."

A spokesman for the council previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the leaked document contained 95 per cent of information that was already in the public domain.

Coun Cooper added: “I have already told members of my own group that if the chief executive’s investigation reveals that one of them leaked these reports, I will be expelling them from the Conservative group and calling upon them to resign from the council completely.”

Council launches £1m business case for major renovation of Harrogate Convention Centre

Last night, councillors voted to spend £1 million on a business case ahead of a potential £47million investment in the convention centre.

It comes after the venue warned it "may not survive" without further support from the council.

The convention centre is currently being used as an Nightingale Hospital and the council is locked in talks with NHS bosses over how much longer it will be needed.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter