Exclusive: Cllr Russell Goodway refuses to deny that Council has sufficient borrowing capacity to maintain #StDavidsHall

Exclusive: Cllr Russell Goodway refuses to deny that Cardiff Council has sufficient borrowing capacity to maintain #StDavidsHall and if the political will existed, its future would be secure in our ownership.

Here is the transcript of the key exchange at the scrutiny committee on Monday:

Cllr Joel Williams: Can I ask you as an officer - I wouldn’t want you to stray into political territory - but it is a political choice to proceed with the disposal of St David’s Hall by way of this agreement? The council has sufficient borrowing capacity in place should it be the political will that St David’s Hall remains in house. Is that correct?

Neil Hanratty, dir. economic development: I can’t answer that.

Cllr Russell Goodway: [Smirks] I can’t answer that. I’m not responsible for finance on the Council (see pic above)

Furthermore, Council is now estimating a budget gap of £29m rather than the £53m they have been quoting to justify giving the lease to AMG/Live Nation

Source: 1:06:11- 1:06:42 https://cardiff.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/726620