Rugby to spend over £1 million on 2015 World Cup? (28 Dec)

The Rugby Liberal Democrat website has previously reported on plans to create a fanzone for the 2015 Rugby World Cup by the John Barfoot carpark - see http://rugbylibdems.org.uk/en/article/2014/950078/will-rugby-make-the-most-of-its-heritage .

A report being considered by Rugby's tories on 5 January brings together all of the town's plans for a "Carnival of Rugby" and presents the bill - some £1,095,000.

As well as the fanzone the plans include refurbishing the North Street Toilets and creating coach parking in the Westway car park. It is intended that there will be:

- Bunting and Sculpture

- Events

- Town Guides and other volunteers provided with uniforms and training

- The Fanzone

All of which brings a bill of £1,095,000. In a time of austerity how is this money to be found? Much of it will be found through smoke and mirrors with charges to accounts with fancy names such as the "Budget Volatility Reserve" and the "Business Rates Equalisation Reserve". The more concrete sources of funding include money taken from developers under "section 106 contributions" and snaffling all of this year's projected under-spend. Finally Rugby Borough Council staff are hoping for sponsorship deals worth in excess of £100,000.