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Councillors' anger at Government funding
COUNCILLORS have been left angered after it was revealed a submission for how Government funding should be used in the county had been penned entirely by officers.
At the latest meeting of the economic prosperity and strategic services overview and scrutiny committee, members expressed their concerns that their priorities had been forgotten about while less important issues had been brought to the forefront of the integrated Northumberland submission of Regional Funding Advice (RFA).
Many were angered by the issue of A1 dualling being "relegated" down the list of priorities and put out a strong message that they want to be consulted in the future.
Coun Glen Sanderson said: "The lack of any member input is a real concern. I don't recognise any of the names on the working group other than officers.
"I'm genuinely surprised that there was no involvement at all within scrutiny. There is the A1, and there are one or two other areas that could be of interest to members.
Coun Gordon Castle, chair of the committee, said: "It's seems almost relegated, almost as an afterthought, a 'let's do the A1 as well'.
"Member involvement is so important and there is nothing more important than the prosperity of our county.
"Some of it feels like they have done it in a hurry to meet a dead line.
"For the future, the message here is, we want a very strong involvement in how these documents are shaped."
Coun John Riddle added: "It just felt like a missed opportunity, it's about us getting the Government advised of where we want money spent in the future."
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Weather for Blyth
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -4 C to 6 C
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