A LEADING councillor who heads up a committee keeping tabs on finances has called for clarity over claims Southend Council paid £450,000 to entice Boom Battle Bar to open in Southend.

A political row has taken place on social media since the payment was raised at a council meeting last week.

Some councillors have denied any knowledge of the payment despite being in power at the time.

Martin Terry, a deputy leader of the former Labour-led joint administration with Lib Dems and Independents said: “The council is the owner of the Victoria Centre and last year when it was proposed that Boom Battle Bar would come in, we were shown the site, the unit that was proposed for them, and that was just a complete concrete empty shell.

“I presume the investment that was made was in order to make that place usable by a commercial tenant.”

The council had set aside £805,000 for 2022 to 2023 improvements to the centre’s units and last year budgeted £2,050,000 for refurbishment work to repair the centre’s roof. Both amounts were made public and agreed by council.

However, the financial agreement over the Victoria Centre unit was discussed behind closed doors in a confidential cabinet meeting in February.

Mr Terry added: “As chairman of audit committee, I’ve written and asked for clarification on that point. I want to know the background to this because the implication is there is some sort of underhand practice that has gone on which I do not think is the case but we will find out.

“Southend Council is a business and like any other business it doesn’t do all its washing in public. It wasn’t a decision made by members of the council it was made under delegated powers.

“There’s been lots of comments made about the way the council manages things. My conviction on this issue is they are a substantial UK business offering good all-year round jobs. We should be supportive of that in our local economy.”

The bar, which opened last month, hosts beer pong, and axe-throwing among its attractions. Last week the owners declined to comment.

Former Independent councillor Keith Evans joined the debate on X, formerly Twitter.

He said: “Strange that I don’t recall seeing any papers on this. So much for the Nolan principles of openness and transparency. Oh sorry I forgot it will be hidden under the commercial sensitivities excuse and let’s hope no one finds out. Appalling.”

Southend Council said agreements with potential tenants were commonplace and commercially sensitive.