But council bosses wanted the crowds watching events like Children In Need and the Last Night of the Proms to be filmed against a backdrop of the historic Town Hall.

The planning permission was secured in September 2007 after the application was heard, without prior warning, at the end of a planning committee meeting.

It was then put under wraps when Waterloo House bosses secured an injunction in December 2007.

The injunction, which remains in place, was made after lawyers claimed irregularities with the way planning permission was granted and said noise from broadcasts would disturb office workers.

The council cabinet is due for a full report on the screen’s progress early next month. Public consultation on the planning application is due to end on January 7.