A COVENANT governing how Keighley Civic Centre can be used is currently the subject of an investigation, it has been revealed.

Keighley Mayor, Councillor Graham Mitchell, this week confirmed the probe in his response to a question by town resident Cath Evans.

Speaking during the council’s extraordinary general meeting earlier this month, she had warned the council could be trading illegally from its civic centre in North Street.

She asked: “Given there is a covenant on the civic centre building that states no trade should take place there, and any variation of the covenant has to be done by legal licence, could the council please assure me such a licence exists and it is signed and dated by both parties?

“Also, are councillors aware if no such signed and dated licence exists, the town council’s Public Liability Insurance could be invalid and, therefore, each councillor will have personal liability should anything happen at the civic centre that causes injury? If the licence to vary the covenant does not exist, the council has been trading illegally and continues to do so today.”

Coun Mitchell said: “Keighley Town Council confirms there is a covenant on part of the grounds at the Spencer Street end of the building. The covenant is currently under negotiation with the landowner and the council’s legal representatives.

“The council owns the building and has Public Liability Insurance cover for its current trading, which is not affected by the covenant.

“The council has appointed [new clerk] Tom Ferry as civic centre manager, who has been in post for only one week. He is conducting a thorough investigation into all aspects of the covenant on the civic centre building and the legality of trading within it, and he will be reporting his findings to council.

“I ask Mr Ferry be given time and space to complete his work.”