Wednesday 22nd March 2017:
After dannyhowell.net published a press release issued by Warminster Town Councillor Steve Dancey concerning a £50,000 "gift" by the Council to Warminster Community Radio: see http://www.dannyhowell.net/2017/03/councillor-steve-dancey-independent.html, we published a response from Veronica Mills, a member of Warminster Town Council staff, in which she said the £50,000 was not a gift but a service agreement. Veronica also wanted to let us know that Councillor Dancey's press release contained "several incorrect facts": http://www.dannyhowell.net/2017/03/50000-from-warminster-town-council-to.html
Councillor Dancey has contacted dannyhowell.net again. He writes ~
"If I may respond to Veronica's Mills' comment I would point out that four people voted in favour of my amendment - myself, Paul
Macdonald, Paul Batchelor and Nick Dombkowski. Please contact them if
you are in any doubt. That makes four NOT three."
"The difference between a gift and a service agreement is just words.
They [Warminster Community Radio] get the money for very little. Calling it a service agreement is a
way of [Warminster Town Council] overcoming its £2,000 limit on grants to outside bodies."
"Why does
a small local council need a service agreement
with a radio station? We [Warminster Town Council] must be the only council in the United Kingdom
that has such a thing in place."
"Finally - this is the only time this matter has been specifically on
the agenda for a vote by the full town council. On Monday, the motion was lost by 6
votes to 4 with 3 members abstaining. THAT IS A FACT."
"If you could indulge me a little further. Veronica Mills mentions the
opportunity to bring this matter up at the budget but of course this
grant, sorry, "service agreement" runs for five years while the budget is
set for just the next financial year. A clever red herring."
