Salford MBC has assured its residents they will not foot the £20m bill to sponsor the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra after government funding is withdrawn. The council struck a deal with the orchestra last September to work with local children in the community over an eight-year period, as the musicians and other parts of the BBC move to their new home at mediacity:uk in Salford Quays. The £20m cost was to be paid from business rates through the Government's Local Authority Business Growth Initiative (LABGI). The scheme has now been suspended, but council leader, Cllr John Merry, reassured residents: ‘Council taxpayers have nothing to worry about. We were disappointed to learn the scheme was ending, and had lobbied to keep it, but it does not change our promise that sponsorship of the orchestra comes from the extra revenues the city will get from the BBC's relocation.' Funding for the deal will now come from domestic rates generated by mediacity:uk, a limited LABGI scheme to replace the current scheme, and a replacement LABGI scheme to be introduced in future.
