Councillors clash over Clitheroe Market upgrade funds & vision, citing concerns about the Jubilee Fund and project goals.
A group proposed ideas before this meeting. They suggested spending money from different sources. Some money comes from the government. Some is from the council’s Jubilee Fund. It marked 50 years of the council in 1974.
They plan to improve Clitheroe Market. Upgrades include stalls and electrics. They also want a stone surface area. Some work has already been done at the market. The old stone area may not be historic.
It might date back to around 1980. The stones are uneven and hard to clean. They could cause people to trip.
The plan is to move the stones. They will go to Clitheroe Castle grounds. They will inform people about the market there. A flat surface could replace the stones. This would happen at the market location. A report said the ideas were from hard work.
They also faced difficult choices. Some ideas were removed along the way.
Many one-time projects were proposed. These are known as “capital” projects. Labour councillors disagreed with some plans. They disliked changes made at the meeting. They also disliked the market resurfacing idea.
They felt the Jubilee Fund was unclear. A councillor said there was no vision for the fund.
He argued that money should have a goal. He thought they should decide goals first. Then, they should allocate funds afterward. Another councillor said changes came late. He said the “goalposts changed” at the meeting. His group will think and suggest an alternative. They want to cooperate and avoid politics.
He wished Clitheroe was like Skipton or Haworth. Those towns have distinctive cobblestones. He thought allocation amounts seemed unclear. One idea was £250,000 each for two larger villages. A larger amount, £500,000, would go to Clitheroe. Another plan suggested £166,000 for each place.
One councillor said that was his idea. They will rethink this plan. This is due to new spending ideas at the meeting. Another councillor denied any lack of vision. He said the market had been discussed in detail.
Other councillors worked to see things develop. A visit showed what other markets look like.
Another councillor stated they’ve had a vision for a while. He also mentioned resident and trader input. A councillor said his village talked with an officer. They discussed using the Jubilee Fund for a fenced area. They may apply when the rules are final. He liked the money for another village’s hall.
The council leader clarified the decision process. He said no choices were made early. The group makes suggestions. Then, the committee makes decisions.