Decision defended to spend cash seemingly set aside for rejuvenation projects on Christmas decorations
A CRITICISED decision to use cash seemingly set aside for rejuvenation projects on Christmas decorations has been defended.Concerns were raised about around £200,000 of a £1.4m Development Fund being used on projects such as Christmas lights in Windsor and Maidenhead, by the council's Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Panel.
The panel believed the fund was intended for projects such as the rejuvenation of Maidenhead.
The front page of a financial update report presented at the cabinet meeting on Thursday last week, describes the purpose of the fund as to 'support the council's investment in regeneration initiatives'.
The projects have been described to The Observer by one opposition councillor as a point scoring stunt ahead of next year's election.
However, Cllr Simon Dudley, cabinet member for finance, defended the decision.
He said: "Perhaps there is a bit of a lack of understanding from the members of the panel. It's a fund built up from the overperformance of RBWM in previous years.
It is used for a number of projects, be they rejuvenation projects or general capital projects.
"It is fundamentally cash available to be used by council to invest where appropriate. There has been criticism of local authorities for building up cash reserves. We should be putting it back into the community."
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