Council slammed over £20m grant officers

RACHEL ALEXANDER Local Democracy Reporter

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MEMBERS of a_ decision-making board in Darlaston have fiercely criticised Walsall Council over its handling of a £20 million regeneration grant.

They described the situation until now as “neither transparent nor democratic” and have demanded answers over its choice of chairman.

Last year, Darlaston was awarded £20m to be spent over 10 years as part of the government’s Plan for Neigh-bourhoods programme through the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Cllr Paul Bott (Lab, Darlaston South) said the original board - made up of senior officers from public organisations - was scrapped after residents called for it to include local people instead.

However, councillors were recently told the board would once again be formed of officers and political group leaders from Walsall.

In response, a separate community board was set up, made up of those who had applied to be on the council's board but refused to sit on it after the U-turn.

Community board member Peter Burton, 68, has lived in Darlaston all his life.