EDITOR'S CHOICE DALES FOLK How Wilf forgave the RAF bombers PICK OF THE PAST Craven through the years READERS' LETTERS Sad about Scargill COUNTRYFILE From the farm at Yockenthwaite CARTOONS View our Hambone, every day! Or view our Honeyball! GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL Just register

Most read Comments 1 School switched on to saving the environment 2 Settle warm up for cup semi with win against Clitheroe 3 Friends turn back the clock 4 Priest ordained by her father 5 Crowds return to game show 6 Firm urged to scrap turbine plans 7 Post office set to be saved 8 Investment bank bids for firm 9 Grammar school head questions value of university 10 Council chief was paid off Today | 7 Days 1 Council chief was paid off 2 Council hits back after audit report 3 Re-launch for Trueman statue project 4 Ingleton black-outs! 5 Festival hailed a huge success 6 Council appoints troubleshooting chief 7 Exciting times ahead says council leader 8 Fanny Grey Inn, Salterforth

Comment

Barnoldswick Town Council has been accused of being secretive over its accounts.

Newly elected independent member Glenn Whittaker claims that despite asking as a councillor and under the Freedom of Information Act, he has not been shown the accounts for a number of town council events.

Coun Whittaker wants to see the accounts from the Festival of Flight, Fireworks Fantasia, Beating the Bounds and Town Criers' competition, which were held before 2006.

"How am I supposed to answer council-related questions from the people who have elected me if there's certain things I'm not allowed to see?" he said.

Coun Whittaker first asked to see the accounts at a meeting of the town council on January 30, before he was elected as a councillor. He has since asked under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and again after he was elected on to the council.

Coun Whittaker raised the issue once more at a recent meeting of the town council.

At the meeting, councillors were asked to vote for or against a motion stating that the council recognised the social and economic value of events such as Beating the Bounds and the Festival of Flight.

"I didn't know what the economic benefits of the events were," Coun Whittaker said.

"How can I vote on an issue when I haven't been given all the information about it?"

As a result, he abstained from the vote.

"I've written to both the acting town clerk and the chairman of the council about it, but haven't even received confirmation that they have got the letters," he said.

Margaret Bell, chairman of Barnoldswick Town Council, said the council was not keeping the accounts from Coun Whittaker.

She has previously written to him to say his request would have to be put down in writing and sent to the town council.

Coun Bell said after that had happened she would be happy to meet with Coun Whittaker and look through past accounts.

"They have been requested under the Freedom of Information Act," said Coun Bell.

"The Act gives a certain number of working days to get the information and by April 25 he will be able to see what he has asked for.

"At the moment, we're still going through all the information."

2:22pm Friday 11th April 2008

Print

Email this

Comment

Add your comment

Name:
Email: *
Location:
**
	e.g. 123-123
Comment: Please note: All HTML tags will be ignored. Format Text:
By posting a comment, I confirm that I have read and agree to the terms of use. Comments are not moderated but we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention and we may delete inappropriate postings. Please treat other people with respect. You must not post anything that is abusive, indecent, unlawful or defamatory. Remember, you are personally liable for what you post on this site. If you wish to complain about a comment, contact us here.
* Your email address will not be displayed ** To avoid register now or login