Town council wants facts (From The Oxford Times)

Town council wants facts

5:30pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Didcot

Town councillors in Didcot are using Freedom of Information legislation to find out how much money developers have contributed towards new services for the town.

They are concerned that money earmarked for community facilities could end up being wasted if Oxfordshire County Council does not tell them how much cash is available.

Developers’ contributions would not benefit the town council directly, but it took the unusual step last month of submitting the Freedom of Information request to get the information it wanted.

Town councillor for All Saints ward Nick Hards, above, said it was vital for the town council to know what funding was available. He is a governor of Lydalls Nursery School in Lydalls Road and said money needed to be spent on building a pavement near the entrance to the nursery.

The county council confirmed that it had received the request.

Under the legislation, it has 20 working days to respond, with the time limit starting the day after the request.