CBC Tories Challenged Over Lack of Consultation on 'Welcome Back Fund'

The government have made available to Central Bedfordshire £255,000 for the rejuvenation of town high streets. But a row has erupted over how the funds are to be distributed across Central Bedfordshire. The scheme is known as the Welcome Back Fund (¹) . The purpose of this money is to support businesses by increasing footfall on the High Street, post-covid. Councillor Adam Zerny (Independent, Potton) claimed on his Facebook Page, 23 April , “I have spent the last week trying to get the Council to tell me how it was intending to divide up this funding. It has just revealed the numbers. Ordinarily, with major financial decisions, the Council at least makes an effort to demonstrate a semblance of transparency with a debate and a vote in public. Not the case on this occasion. “The division of the cash has been made by Conservative cabinet members without any discussion or vote by the rest of the elected councillors.” Adam's calculations: Councillor Zerny writes, “Despite having 46