Where's the dosh?

Rusthall residents believed that the newly formed Rusthall Parish Council would receive a loan of £40,000 from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to tide it over the first year of operation, the reason being that no parish precept could be raised before the Council commenced functioning. Doubts as to this happening have surfaced.

It is reported that the Borough Council intends to make a 'gift' of £500 to the Parish Council instead of the loan,.

However a Borough Council officer is quoted as stating that the council had agreed to provide financial support to the parish council, to be repaid when the parish receives its precept instalment in April 2012

What I find surprising is that the parish council is intent on megaphone diplomacy, there is a meeting of the parish council next week.at which the matter will be discussed. Quite why this issue has been trailed through the local press before the position is explained at next week's meeting defeats me.

The confusion is worrying and hardly inspires confidence.  Time for the Leader of the Borough Council, who represents Rusthall, to bang a few heads together in the two councils.

It is important to remember that it is public money.  My concern is that Rusthall Parish Council does not see £40,000 as an amount it must spend.  Obviously it needs to expend money on administration, room hire etc, but spare us vanity schemes.