Brentwood's Conservative Council FAILS to pay Mayor's monies to charities

It has emerged in recent weeks that Brentwood Council has still not paid out from the mayoral year of Cllr Vicky Davies, despite constant pleas from the immediate past mayor to do so.

What's worse, many chequest written by donors have not even been banked, and instead have been sat in a safe for up to six months, gathering dust rather than interest. Some cheques have now expired and donors have been asked to re-write them.

Cllr Davies was proud to raise many thousands of pounds for Brentwood Talking Newspaper (supporting Brentwood Visually Impaired Group), St Francis Hospice and Brentwood Community Print and is very upset to hear that they have not seeen a penny of the money raised by them.

The council is blaming their new bank for this, but this doesn't excuse the length of time this has taken.

Cllr Davies has made the following statement;

"It is with great distress that I recently learnt the monies I raised for my charities the Talking newspaper, Brentwood community print and St Francis hospice have not been paid and retained by Brentwood Council.

"Over the Mayoral year I was very fortunate to be well supported at my many fund raising events resulting in a total of £11500 collectedand three months later the charities left with only a cardboard replica presented at Annual Council.

"This appalling situation has never happened before and begs the question why is the money being withheld?

"The poor excuses that come from the finance officers is to blame Lloyds bank for not providing a paying in book and cheque book when a new bank account was opened. This seems incredible and totally inept financial management.

"This behaviour by the council brings the role of the Mayor into disrepute and tarnishes my reputation."