Riverfest grant decision reversed (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Riverfest grant decision reversed

12:00pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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A COMMITTEE has reversed a decision made by its chairman regarding funding for Riverfest and rejected the use of e-mails to make committee decisions.

Organisers of the Burnham based event had requested a community grant of £1,000 from Maldon District Council.

But the event took place before the meeting of the community services committee on Tuesday July 7.

Members were therefore sent e-mails regarding the grant before the meeting and, despite three of the four that replied agreeing to the £1,000 request, chairman Brenda Keighley reduced the grant to £500 because of, according to council officers, “the large number of applications received this round”.

Cllr Brian Beale said: “My concern is the procedures. I am not upset with the decision but am very concerned about the way it happened.”

The committee then rejected the chairman’s decision and awarded the £1,000 before commenting that grants should not be awarded just by the chairman or following e-mail responses to gauge opinion but at official committee meetings only.

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