There was a heated discussion at the Town Council meeting on Monday, December 10th, when members of the Town Team asked for the money which they had asked the Council to store for them, to be returned.

Ross Town Council is currently holding £3,464 in their reserves for the Town Team which was originally intended to be used by the Council to purchase market stalls.

The Councillors were asked to vote on whether they are in agreement to return the money.

The Clerk said: “They want all of the monies that were allocated to the market stalls returned. “I don’t think we’re legally bound because there weren’t terms and conditions when the grant funding was given.”

Councillor Chris Bartrum requested clarification about where the award came from, and who the award was made to. He said: “Surely the government made an award to the town, and that was not the Town Council’s money, it just appeared in the bank account because we are a local authority with a bank account. It seems to be the suggestion now that we run off with it.

Councillor Caroline Bennett said: “The money was given to the Town Team and they asked the Town Council to look after it for them. They then invited bids and as part of that due process we submitted a request for money for market stalls and that was agreed.”

The Clerk confirmed this, to which Cllr Bartrum said: “And now they don’t agree - they want it back.”

The Clerk pointed out that the Town Council could not put forward a proposal that directly contravened the request that was being made. She said: “What we need to do is vote on the request that has been put before us: to return the monies.”

Four councillors voted in favour but the majority voting against.