Councillors have approved a £6,000 grant for a company established by four members of Westmorland and Furness Council — after the councillors left the meeting because they are directors of the organisation receiving the funding.
The Eden Locality Board meeting at Voreda House approved the grant application from E927 CIC to create a website for the 2027 celebrations marking the 1,100th anniversary of the birth of England at Eamont Bridge.
The four councillors who are directors of E927 CIC withdrew from the meeting before the item was considered.
With both the chair and vice-chair among those who had to leave, councillors appointed Cllr Connell as acting chair for the agenda item.
Cllr Connell presented the report, with Cllr Bell proposing that the Eden Locality Board approve the £6,000 grant.
There was no further discussion from members, with Cllr Connell making a statement in support of awarding the funding.
During the meeting, Cllr Connell said the £6,000 grant would be the only public money being provided towards E927 CIC and the Eamont 927 celebrations.
However, we revealed earlier this week that thousands of pounds of public money from Westmorland and Furness Council has already been transferred from the council’s bank accounts into the control of two parish councils specifically for the Eamont 927-related activity — including the creation of a website.
The funding was moved into parish council-held accounts for the express purpose of supporting the 2027 celebrations, meaning public money had already been committed towards Eamont 927 projects before the £6,000 grant was approved.
The £6,000 award will now allow E927 CIC to develop a website ahead of the 2027 events.
Then select "Add to Home Screen"
