TOWN councillors discussed their options over a ‘financial burden’ that was previously described as ‘unlawful’.

At their monthly meeting, Connah’s Quay town councillors received an update on the Quay Café, which has incurred a cumulative deficit of over £234,000 since it opened in 2011.

The Leader previously reported that a report issued by the Auditor General for Wales said the decision to open the cafe was based on a poorly prepared business plan and was considered ‘unlawful’.

Members discussed the three options they had been given which included continuing to run the premises as it is, close the premises or do something else with it.

Cllr Alan Roberts proposed councillors vote in favour of option three as work has been done on making it more of a community asset.

He said there have been talks on offering free food at a community facility and allowing it to be hired out at any time as a meeting space.

He said: “If we start doing better, it’s going to be easier to get rid of. This isn’t a final decision. We are continuing to look at ways to change, this is not the end.”

Cllr Ian Dunbar said: “It’s a brilliant idea because if there’s anything to go by it’s the Quay Play we had over the last six weeks where the average visit from children was 120 each day.

“They had a variety of meals and even some of the kiddies were saying ‘we never get this at home’. So, I think for the clerk’s idea of utilising the food from supermarkets is a good idea and will go down very well. With that I propose option three.”

Cllr Chris Risley added: “For me, it will be a shame. It is a community asset regardless of what the auditor says. Option three sits right with my conscience. It’s going to take a lot of effort but it is a community asset.”

In the report given to councillors, it said they would receive monthly updates from the clerk after accepting the recommendations at a special meeting held on July 2.

The report states that the café does not raise any revenue or income for the town council and the 2019-2020 budget for the café shows an income of £60,000 and expenditure of £79,637.

To carry on as it is and to break even, the café would need to have an income of £6,600 per calendar month however, the financial position of the facility is unlikely to change without direct action, which if taken would make the premises commercial.

The council report states: “If this option were to be pursued it would likely leave the council open to the same issues as before and in a worse position both financially and reputationally.”

It also states that closing the premises would not be beneficial as the council is still liable for the rent for the remaining ten years.

At the monthly meeting, Cllr Bernie Attridge said members should do all they can to look at the other options, namely option two, and see if any other groups could take it over.

He said: “I appreciate the third option but on a personal note I’d like to see if there is anyone out here that can take this off us.

“It is costing us and if someone does take it off us, all these great ideas we can transfer to the civic hall.

“For me, I know we are damned if we do and damned if we don’t as members because of the lease we are tied into, but I don’t think we should just go along with option three without looking.

“It’ still going to be a financial burden on this council.”

Clerk Steven Goodrum told members that option three would allow them to focus their attention on making the café what ‘it should have been’.

Cllr Andy Dunbobbin added: “There’s a danger of the narrative being changed that it was set up as a business, the principle of the café being opened was for the benefit of the community.”

Councillors agreed to trial option three for the remainder of the financial year, but will consider applications from anyone looking to take it over.