Tories claim their radical plan would save £100m for Salford City Council

Radical proposals to save Salford city council more than £100million have been put forward by the authority’s opposition Conservative group. Tory leader Coun Robin Garrido is arguing that if their ideas were put into effect there would be no need for the 2.99 per cent increase in general council tax levy for 2023/24, although he agrees with the 2pc increase in the adult social care precept.

This would mean the sale of the authority’s 25-year lease on the New Bailey office block and the sale of 100 Embankment. The city council borrowed the money to build the Embankment and Coun Garrido argues that the sale of the lease and the Embankment could put £80m back into the authority’s coffers and eliminate the hefty interest payments on its loan.

Such moves would also release ‘earmarked reserves’ of £40m held by the council which can only be used for the two buildings, he said. The Conservatives are also suggesting offloading half-empty office space at the city council’s headquarters in Swinton for development of ‘much-needed’ social housing.

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“It would be a perfect location for that,” said Coun Garrido. “It’s right in the middle of Swinton, with the road network, buses, library, shops and services.” And he is vehemently opposed to Salford city mayor Paul Dennett’s desire for the council to wholly own the AJ Bell Stadium, home to the Salford City Red Devils rugby league club.

The council and property giant Peel currently each own half of the stadium, but Peel wants out. A ground swap with League Two football club Salford City has been ruled out and the cash-strapped rugby league club is in the