Now Labour group leader Councillor Allan Hepple is calling for the Tories to explain why Eric Pickles has given the thumbs up to the proposed loan while Councillors Daley and Flux have contradicted and even inflated the loan.

TOWN TORIES IN ‘PICKLE’ OVER NEW TOWN HALL

EMBARRASMENT FOR DALEY AND CO AS THEIR SECRETARY OF STATE ERIC PICKLES ‘SIGNS OFF’ PROPOSED TOWN HALL DEAL AS ‘GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY’

Cramlington Town Council Tory group have been left with red faces as it emerged that Conservative Secretary of State Eric Pickles had signed off the proposed deal to buy the ‘Surveyor’s House’ in the town centre. Local Tories have branded the proposed purchase as ‘a waste of money’ and the announcement that Mr Pickles has signed the deal off as a ‘good value for money’ will come as a massive blow for the Tory group led by Councillor Wayne Daley.

In the letter from the Secretary of State gives permission for Cramlington Town to borrow up to £350,000. This contradicts Tory claims that the council would pay £400,000 for the building. Pickles goes on to agree with the plan which would see the loan last for 30 years with the stipulation that it would not affect the town’s council tax precept.

Now Labour group leader Councillor Allan Hepple is calling for the Tories to explain why Eric Pickles has given the thumbs up to the proposed loan while Councillors Daley and Flux have contradicted and even inflated the loan.

He said

“Councillors Daley and Flux need to explain why they think this deal is a bad one for the town yet Eric Pickles doesn’t? Not only have they been caught out inflating the loan by 15%, they’ve also disgracefully tried to use the Equality Act to make misleading party political points. It’s a shocking indictment on Cramlington’s Tories when they’ve got to scaremonger in order to make a political point. The town council should be above party political point scoring. They need to apologise for misleading the people of the town”.