THE blueprint for the future of York’s community stadium project is to be put under the microscope by the city’s ruling councillors next week.

A proposed business case for the 6,000-seater Monks Cross stadium which would house York City FC and York City Knights has been prepared by City of York Council, outlining how the £19.2 million scheme would be paid for and how the venue would be operated.

The council has said the full document cannot be made public for “commercially sensitive” reasons because of the financial detail it contains, but its confidentiality has been criticised by opposition politicians due to the amount of public money involved.

A report going before next week’s meeting of the council’s cabinet said the cost of the ground - to be built on the Huntington Stadium site - and adjacent community facilities would be met through a £14.85 million contribution from Oakgate (Monks Cross) Ltd if a neighbouring retail development is approved, £4 million borrowed by the council and at least £350,000 from City.

The football club could contribute as much as £2 million depending on how much its Bootham Crescent ground - believed to be worth £4.5 million on the open market - is sold for, although the report says its maximum contribution is more likely to be about £800,000. City have signed a non-disclosure agreement regarding the business case, but said their £2 million Football Stadia Improvement Fund loan will be converted into a grant if the new stadium meets necessary criteria.

Coun Ian Gillies, who leads the council’s Conservative opposition group, said: “This report, lacking clarity and detail, does not provide sufficient information to make a decision on the proposed business case.

“My concern is this report is being railroaded through without showing due diligence. While I appreciate the need for commercial confidentiality on certain aspects, there are many questions left unanswered. This is taxpayers’ money being put at risk and it is not unreasonable to expect full disclosure for residents to understand the full ramifications.”

The council said the business case contained information it was “not legally obliged” to publish because it could open the authority and its partners to a legal challenge, affect the ability of the organisations involved to “operate competitively” and affect efforts to “gain best value for taxpayers’ money”. It said this was “common practice and non-negotiable on any report of this nature”.

The scheme also includes a York Hospital community drop-in centre, York St John University’s Community Institute of Sport and Wellbeing, a training and development conference centre and a Gateway Explore Library, with City of York Athletics Club moving to the University of York’s Sports Village.

Coun Sonja Crisp, cabinet member for leisure, culture and social inclusion, said: “It’s an exciting range of learning and health-focused services and facilities for the city and creates a sporting destination which will benefit professional, amateur and community sports clubs for generations to come.

“I’m delighted we have strong support from all our professional clubs and within the community. We have a solid business plan to bring this project to fruition.”

City would pay an estimated £125,000 in annual rent at the stadium, with the Knights paying £25,000, while leasing income could bring in £97,000 a year and naming rights £50,000 a year. The stadium’s annual operating costs are expected to be £321,000.