Freedom event faces £50,000 funds cut

Hull City Council’s ruling Liberal Democrat group plans to cut £50,000 from the £250,000 it spent on the music and arts festival last year, about half its costs.

The savings are part of a range of cuts the council is planning as it seeks to slash £40m from its budget to balance a huge cut in resources from central Government.

Tourism body Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY) said charges may be introduced for some elements of the festival, while the council said it may ask businesses to step in to cover the shortfall.

Janet Reuben, VHEY chief executive, said: “Freedom 2010 was another huge success for Hull, in both attracting visitors to the region and supporting local businesses. It is now established as one of the most exciting annual events in this region, and we must now look at how to make it sustainable in the current economic climate.

“To broaden the Freedom programme we are considering introducing additional paid-for elements for this year’s event, although fundamentally Freedom will remain free.”

The Labour and Conservative opposition groups would both cut all council funding from the event under their budget proposals.

Labour group leader Steve Brady said: “We can use that money to keep the museums and Albemarle Music Centre open, and they are in use all year round. We just can’t justify it (the festival) as far as I’m concerned.”

VHEY has revealed figures showing last year’s festival generated £5.27m for the local economy, which it said represented a £10 return for every £1 invested.

It said the event had attracted 150,000 visitors to the city centre over the festival weekend, a rise on the 122,000 who attended it the previous year.