Council motion 'condemns' glass centre closure
BBCA council motion has criticised plans to close the National Glass Centre (NGC) and has called for demolition plans to be halted.
The University of Sunderland has said repairs could cost between £14m and £45m and plans to shut the centre in July.
But a Sunderland City Council motion has opposed the closure, calling it "flawed".
The local authority is urging the university to consider other options for the centre, including transferring the building to interested parties.
The motion, which was put forward by Silksworth Labour councillor Phil Tye ahead of a council meeting later, said: "The council condemns the University of Sunderland's decision to close the National Glass Centre and believes the proposal is flawed.
"It believes that the cost proposals set out to remedy some defects with the building and the supplied running costs are presented in a way to deceive the council and its residents."
The university, which is site custodian, has said it has been transparent about its decision-making about the NGC.
It has also said no individual or organisation had come forward to offer financial support to rescue the centre.
The council said it wanted the university to "immediately" halt the closure and the demolition and work with it to consider other options, such as transferring the building to a public body or a new or existing charitable trust.
The motion calls on the university to work with the local authority and its partners to lobby for short-term funding for initial capital works, while an independent review into the future viability of the NGC takes place.
It is also asking the university to work with any interested party "wishing to take over ownership of the NGC in an open and transparent way".
The motion is expected to be debated at a full council meeting later, which will be the final one before the local elections in May.
