THE blame game over controversial admission charges at York Art Gallery last night intensified, as past and present ruling councillors denied having ever approved an entry fee.

The Liberal Democrats yesterday accused the 2011-2015 Labour administration of having held secret talks on the matter, but senior Labour figures said they had made clear they were against charges.

York Museums Trust insists it is operating within the terms of its lease but The Press has now obtained a copy of that document, signed by the trust and City of York Council in 2010.

It states that the permitted use for the gallery premises includes "To provide for free admission to the permanent collection of the City Art Gallery and archive for all citizens of the City of York."

It goes on to say: "For the avoidance of doubt, this does not apply to temporary or special exhibitions, provided always that the landlord and tenant may from time to time agree in writing exceptions to the obligations."

Council official Charlie Croft stated last week that under the terms of the lease, written permission was needed from the authority before charges could be introduced for residents, but the trust insisted that it was acting within the lease terms in imposing a £7.50 entry fee. The charging decision provoked protests during Saturday's re-opening of the gallery, which led to police being called when protesters demanded free entry.

York Press:

An extract from the lease

Cllr Nigel Ayre, executive member for leisure and culture in the Conservative-Lib Dem ruling coalition, has been pressed by the Greens to take legal action to block the charges, and said last night that he was taking legal advice from officers on the implications of the trust's decision.

“The clear view of both myself and the cross-party scrutiny committee last week was that there should be a period of negotiation with the YMT ahead of a final decision on charging being taken in September," he said. "These negotiations need to happen so we can find an acceptable way forward for all concerned."

York Press:

From left: Nigel Ayre, Charlie Croft and Sonja Crisp

He said that funding cuts to the trust under the previous Labour administration, which had only been made possible by the votes of Green councillors, had left both the trust and the council in a difficult position.

He claimed: "This is compounded by the revelation that discussions took place behind-closed-doors between the previous Labour Council and the Trust on charging plans. Labour need to come clean about what was and what was not agreed during these discussions.

“The task of the joint executive is now to try to clear-up the mess left behind by Labour and work to find a solution which offers as wider access as possible to the gallery and museums for residents while also ensuring YMT is operating on a firm financial footing.”

A spokesman said his comment about Labour stemmed from a comment made by trust chief executive Janet Barnes at a council scrutiny meeting last week, in which she had said: "We did have a meeting with the leader of the council, and we had a meeting with my chairman, we all met actually, and this (charging) was discussed."

A Trust spokesman said it would be discussing the matter with the council next week.

Labour denied having in any way approved charges. Cllr Sonja Crisp, who was responsible for leisure and culture until May, said there was "no way" the Labour executive would have agreed to the introduction of charges, adding: "Art should be for all and I am opposed to such charges fore residents."

Janet Barnes was last night unavailable.