Opposition councillors are mounting a legal challenge over fears that taxpayers in Tamworth and Lichfield will see their bill 'go through the roof' to pay for an art project miles away in Stafford. That's the claim from Conservative members as the Labour controlled Staffordshire County Council tries to push through a controversial £20 million art project in the county town - despite being £17 million in the red. They are warning the price tag for what is being dubbed a 'white elephant' could follow equally controversial plans for a new county council headquarters, which have soared from £25 million to £43 million. The project was given £300,000 to get off the ground by the council's cabinet on September 20, despite fierce objections from Conservatives and some Labour councillors. The Tories have now revealed they are mounting a legal challenge, questioning whether the county council cabinet is allowed to invest in a project which does not fit into the authority's agreed framework when there is no money in the kitty. Even the council's finance director has warned there is no cash available in its medium term financial strategy. The row is now set to take another twist at a meeting in Stafford tonight, Thursday. Coun Matthew Ellis (Con, Lichfield Rural East) has urged all Labour councillors who are against the move to 'stand up and be counted' at a full council meeting tonight, Thursday. A handful have already spoken out against the plans including Cllr Richard McDermid (Lab, Tamworth) Coun Gyllem Roberts (Lab, Cannock) and Coun Janos Toth (Lab, Cannock). They claim their constituents would not travel to Stafford to use the arts centre, making the plan 'unviable'. Coun Ellis, vice chairman of the county's corporate policy committee, said: "We will be calling on all those against the move, including Labour backbenchers to come out. "Tamworth and Lichfield will be paying for what is a Stafford pet project - all this at a time when council finances are in melt down, services are being reduced and employees made redundant. "Residents' council tax bills with go through the roof in April to pay for the forecasted £17 million overspend again this year, if the council's dwindling resources are not raided. "And this project will be something else on top of that." Coun Ellis said: "The way Labour is behaving is extraordinary. "Despite the fact many Labour beckbenchers are against this white elephant, certain cabinet members seem determined to force this through whatever the cost." | 
