Coventry City Council Leader George Duggins has said that the Supreme Court made a common sense decision.
Duggins told the Coventry Telegraph: “Everybody who read the original judgment knew it was clear as day from the implications of judge Hickinbottom’s judgment.
“Common sense said it was going to be a similar result.
“I always believed the loan was a sensible thing to have done and totally justified. We wanted to ensure an asset for the council and the people of Coventry was secured.
“The decision was totally right. I don’t understand where the state aid arguments came from. Even if it had been state aid it would have been justified because the Ricoh is in a regeneration area.
“The actions were taken for the benefit of Coventry and its citizens. 54 councillors, regardless of party, stood up together to take the right decision.
“I don’t want the council doing anything other than carrying out the functions it should be.
“Valuable officer time and ability has, quite rightly, has been engaged in dealing with legal cases we did not want and were clearly not justified.
“The judicial reviews are steps that should not have been taken and they have caused a lot of unnecessary anxiety.”
More at http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/live-sisu-refused-permission-appeal-12256488