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November 4 - Businesses in Derby could face a 2p tax if the city is chosen to host matches if England’s bid to stage the 2018 World Cup is successful, the leader of the Council revealed today.
The levy would bring in £2.5 million a year towards the £15m Derby City Council thinks host city status could cost it if they chosen from the 16 cities and towns across England who are bidding to be part of the bid.
Derby City Council’s chief executive Adam Wilkinson said the proposal would be up for discussion by councillors at a public meeting tonight.
He said: “We have looked at various options and calculated some possible ways of finding the money we need to fund the World Cup in Derby.
“These are significant figures and may cause some concern both to businesses and residents but we believe the economic benefits to Derby far out weigh the costs.
“This is a huge opportunity that we need to grasp, the recommendations set out how we propose to move forward.
“Ultimately it will be for members tonight to discuss and amend or accept the report in front of them.
“Tomorrow we will have a better indication of the future of Derby’s bid to host the World Cup.”
The Council is also looking into helping Derby County Football Club by contributing towards the costs of a £26m extension to Pride Park Stadium.
The extension is needed to increase the capacity of the stadium from 33,500 seats to 45,000.
The Council claimed, based on experience from the Germany World Cup in 2006, Derby’s economy could expect £100 million in income if the city’s bid is successful.