The leader of Carlisle City Council has reaffirmed the authority's support for Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery - despite a move to cut its future funding being agreed.

Councillor Colin Glover says that the museum has a guarantee that the core funding from the city council is staying at current levels for a total of four years.

He reiterated how important Tullie House was to the city in a packed Civic Centre chamber last night.

He said: "We've given an assurance about funding. There are very few that have ever been given a four-year guarantee on funding.

"A four-year guarantee is what Tullie House has had and that shows the level of commitment that this council and executive have for it."

The council is working with Tullie House trustees and museum leaders to identify and develop future income and growth areas.

A report on Tullie House's new business plan sparked a lengthy debate from councillors.

It also included a vote on a recommendation to cut up to £300,000 from the council's core funding to Tullie House with effect from 2020/21.

Carlisle City Council currently gives over £734,000 a year to the museum for core funding.

The recommendation was passed by 26 votes to 24.

Mr Glover also assured concerned colleagues that any potential changes or developments to the council's support for the museum would be open to review through the authority's scrutiny procedures.

The city council is reviewing its own spending in the face of austerity.

It has already made savings of £7m in recent years and must find a further £3.5m of cuts but leader Mr Glover confirmed that council plans for Tullie House had already been amended in response to an independent study into the museum and continued discussion with trust leaders.

Those unhappy about the recommendation to reduce core funding to the museum included former council leader and Brampton Conservative councillor Mike Mitchelson.

He said: "If we pass this now it means that they would have the authority to take out £300,000. We would be voting to put Tullie House in jeopardy."

Councillor Anne Quilter, portfolio holder for culture on the city council, insisted it would not put the future of the museum in danger.

She also highlighted how the council had helped the Tullie House Trust not only with grants but with backroom support in areas such as HR and legal services.

An amendment put forward by Conservative councillor James Bainbridge calling for senior members on the council's ruling executive to rethink their funding proposals failed to win support.

In 2010, both the Carlisle City Council and Tullie House agreed to set up a charitable trust to run the museum and art gallery.

But the following year it was then transferred from the council to an independent company, with the council still supplying funding.

Since then the council has steadily been reducing the amount of core funding it has given.