Councillors have clashed over a landmark arts venue's plans to host a 'Mini Pride' event.

On 9 February, Cheshire West and Chester Council convened an extraordinary meeting to debate a motion originally tabled by Reform councillor Mandy Clare, who had urged the authority to re-examine its funding and contractual arrangements for Chester Storyhouse.

The move was prompted by the venue's planned hosting of a 'Mini Pride' event, which had also brought criticism from the leader of the borough's Conservative group Cllr Adrian Waddelove.

The venue's website describes the specific event as: "Ignite your imagination by taking part in fun activities from colourful arts and crafts to inclusive story times with our curious artists."

During the session an amended motion was tabled by Cllr Waddelove who claimed the original motion 'went too far'.

He said: "The proposition of removing funding for Storyhouse is not one which this Conservative group could or would support. However, it is a publicly-funded venue paid for by taxpayers right across the Cheshire West and Chester borough to the tune of £1.1 million.

"As elected councillors, we have an important scrutiny role to undertake to ensure that taxpayers do get value for many and the events are appropriate."

Cllr Clare, who represents Winsford Dene, has been vocal on gender issues in the past and has previously been ejected from an event at Storyhouse.

She said her original motion was not to remove funding, but review it.

She told the meeting: "I'm looking forward to going there for a coffee later this week ahead of them banning me again on Saturday when I organise a lawful protest if they do go ahead with a Mini Pride for three-to-seven-year-old children, because three-to-seven-year-old children are too young for this stuff."

She added: "Safeguarding is not just the business of parents who have particular viewpoints that they want to push. It is everybody's business."

Labour councillor Matt Carter (Handbridge Park) said: "I'm enraged and appalled by this motion originally written by the Reform councillors that's been brought to council tonight.

"Storyhouse is not only an asset to Chester, I would go so far as to say it's now a protected characteristic of what makes Chester, Chester."

Labour's Cllr Richard Beacham (Newton and Hoole) claimed the issues raised during the debate risked setting a 'dangerous precedent' about how public funding for the arts was handled.

He told the chamber: "If we don't like the content we say you can't have the funding.

"That is a slippery road towards authoritarianism. It's dangerous for our country. And I think about what's going on in politics in our country, and I look at stuff like this and I just feel very worried about the future."

The motion was subsequently defeated following a vote.