A grant given by Blyth’s UKIP PPC to a private company based in Blyth in his role as a Town Councillor has been challenged after it emerged that the business which wanted to buy a mini-bus was owned by a prominent UKIP supporter who had signed nomination papers for the UKIP councillor in the May 2013 local elections.

UKIP GRANT FACES CHOP

Grant given to private company in Newsham faces calls for ‘transparent’ investigation

 A grant given by Blyth’s UKIP PPC to a private company based in Blyth in his role as a Town Councillor has been challenged after it emerged that the business which wanted to buy a mini-bus was owned by a prominent UKIP supporter who had signed nomination papers for the UKIP councillor in the May 2013 local elections.

The business which provides mixed martial arts training for youngsters received grants totalling £3,000 for the mini-bus despite there being concerns that taxpayer’s money was being used to fund a private, profit making business.

Now Labour are calling for a ‘transparent’ investigation into how taxpayer’s cash has been allocated to the business called ‘Millenium (sic Millennium) Martial Arts’ from the town council which is cutting services in this year’s budget by over £37,000.

The company is co-owned by Mr Tony Cunningham who was also a signatory to UKIP nomination papers in last year’s local elections. The company is registered in Blyth. This has led to a charge of ‘hypocrisy’ being laid at the door of UKIP councillor and PPC Barry Elliott who has mounted a vocal campaign for councillors to spend their allocation in their own ward. Elliott represents Newsham ward yet the company is registered in Blyth.

Newsham ward Labour councillor for NCC Deidre Campbell said

“This is a grant to a private company which is seeking to make a profit from its business yet it seems to have been paid out at a time when the town council is cutting grants and projects by over £37,000 including £11,000 from community grants. At a time when cash is tight and many worthy community projects are feeling the squeeze UKIP have to answer why they think backing a business idea by their supporter’s ranks higher than supporting other projects? Councillor Elliott has been very vocal calling for councillors to spend their money in their ward yet now we find he’s backing a private, profit making business from Blyth when he represents Newsham. The town council needs to explain why, in an open and transparent way, taxpayer’s cash is being spent to prop up local businesses? That’s not what local people would expect.”   

Notes

MILLENNIUM MARTIAL ARTS

  http://companycheck.co.uk/company/08447959

Registered Office 4-6 KING STREET BLYTH NORTHUMBERLAND NE24 1LY