council

The price tag infuriated some on the council, who pointed out that they had approved a three-year contract capped at $900,000 — and specifically had asked for regular updates on the case.

Four months ago, the council approved a budget that closed a $1-billion financial gap, requiring cuts to city personnel.

But, he continued, the city’s flag policy will be taken up at a council meeting next month, and potentially reconsidered.

A city council has suffered repeated attacks by Russian state-funded cyber hackers in the last two years, it has revealed.

The festival would attract big name performers and raise the profile of Leeds both nationally and internationally, the council previously said, as well as "delivering an important boost to the local economy".