CALLS are being made for Worcester's historic Guildhall to help reduce the need for council cuts.

Worcester City Council's Labour leadership is going to explore the potential of the Grade I listed building to see if it can bring in more cash.

It has emerged how the previous Tory administration, which lost control of the council in May, was considering renting part of the site's wing to emerging 'micro-businesses'.

And despite it now being a wedding venue there is still a lingering feeling it does not contribute enough to the council's bottom line.

As the Worcester News revealed on Monday, the Labour cabinet is investing an initial £100,000 into finding new ways of generating income.

The fund has been drawn from a larger £500,000 pot for maximising revenue, with the initial spending kicking off the work in earnest.

The project will involve a highly detailed root-and-branch consultant's investigation of how the council can raise more money by looking at all its assets.

The tactic was debated during a cabinet meeting this week, where Labour Cllr Joy Squires, the deputy leader, said it was important to press on.

"The last administration recognised the importance of income generation to this council and put aside £500,000, but what we're doing now is getting that process underway," she said.

During the debate Tory Cllr Lucy Hodgson said: "I do hope that whatever is done to the Guildhall is carefully thought out and done sympathetically.

"We don't want to charge people to come in, whatever is done should be sympathetic to this building.

"I know that when we were in control we looked at having micro-businesses in the south wing, it's that sort of area we could look at."

Cllr Adrian Gregson, the leader, said: "There is an awful lot more that can be done in this building, but it will be looked at 'in the round' with all the other assets we have.

"We won't be doing it in isolation, that's the whole logic behind this 'one town' approach that quite honestly has failed to take off, and for reasons other than this council."

Cllr Geoff Williams, another Labour cabinet member, called the Guildhall "a challenge and an opportunity", saying they must be mindful of its "status as a very important listed building".

A five-year financial blueprint is forecasting that a budget gap of £1.9 million will open up by 2021/22, with the leadership aiming to reduce the pressures by raising more revenue.