Labour's leader on the city council has requested a place on the Community Stadium Board.

Coun. James Alexander says that important information is being withheld after it emerged that the council's City Strategy chief Steve Galloway said that the Labour leader should not be privy to ‘commercially confidential' information. Coun. Alexander said that this information is essential to councillors if they are to believe that the project is financially viable and give it their ongoing support.

He said:

"The stadium project seems to be limping along now rather than taking the strides that are needed if it is to become a reality. The Lib Dems are communicating with the public as though this is a done deal, which is absolutely not the case. Labour's support is qualified on there being genuine community facilities and the project being viable. We are yet to be convinced on a number of important areas. The community side of the stadium remains unclear and unconvincing.

"I have requested a place on the Stadium Board as I feel this will be the only way of getting hold of the information first hand that I require, if my Group and I are to give our continued support."

"It is in the interest of the project to get politicians on board now, rather than taking plans to a council meeting and having them voted down.

"I also feel as well as having a place on the Stadium Board, that there ought to be some independent presence there too, to give an impartial view", he said. "We cannot simply take Coun. Galloway's word for everything being hunky dory, when our experience on him and the Barbican indicates otherwise".