Town Hall Secrecy at Tunbridge Wells

So here we are in the Conservative Government's brave new world that demands transparency in local government.

In Tunbridge Wells this translates into a private meeting of councillors at which it was agreed to borrow money to purchase the Land Registry site and, so it is believed, the Odeon cinema site.

It is rumoured that the amount to be borrowed is £20 million. The Council has refused to provide information on the amount of the loan, the length of the loan or the total cost to to the Council.

This is a disgrace and one trusts the Local Government Department, of which the borough's MP, Greg Clark, is a minister, will have something to say about this. There is concern already at the secrecy shrouding the activities of the company set up by the Council and Laing to develop Council owned sites.

Cllr Ransley (Con) is quoted in the Courier thus:

(The purchase) was viewed with considerable concern even by those members who supported it. This whole thing is going to split the Conservative Group on Tunbridge Wells Council if we are not careful.

Begs the question: how many councillors voted against the proposal or abstained? It really won't do if the project goes pear-shaped for those who have doubts now to have voted the proposal through out of party loyalty or for the quiet life. Stand up and be counted! In fact do we know what was the number of votes for/against/abstention?