Thanet District Council's FOI Response in Margate Portas Pilot Budget Expenditure

Sick joke of a situation for Margate.

Not only untrurths re the formation of the bid team. Not only the untruths in the reason for my resignation along with colleagues. Not only the untruths re the current 'town team' and it's 'cohesiveness'. 

What relevance is this anyway to Thanet when responding to an FOI on budget and funds? 

Why we, the people of Margate had to find out this information from watching BBC News?

Why is it acceptable that only £111 has been spent and that first in line for the pay out is ex-Town Team Chairman, Terry Painter?

"FOI response to Mr Turner-Mitchell

The Margate Independent Traders together with the Margate Town Partnership submitted a bid to the Ports Pilot Town Team scheme. The bid was successful and Thanet District Council agreed to act as the accountable body.  The initial bid, and subsequent award of funds, was for £100,000.

Following a difficult time for the two groups who submitted the bid to form a cohesive management committee, this has now been established and meeting consistently for several months.  This has delayed the development of detailed project proposals and subsequent spend of project monies.  In addition, the in-kind support to the team has been far greater than originally expected.

By 31st December 2012 the Team had made the following payments;

18-Dec-12    Stationery                                                                    £21.47

19-Dec-13    T Painter for Land Registry searches                         £90.00

Given the early stage of implementation of the project it is too early to assess the success of the Pilot scheme.

However, one of the projects that has been sponsored by the Pilot has been a 'Pop-up shop' on the High Street.  This was part of the implementation plan for the Team but so far has been entirely funded by in kind support and revenue from renting space in this shop (consequently it has not required any of the Portas Pilot funding to support it).  The Pop-up shop has supported over 14 individuals to experience high street trading and test their business ideas, 12 of these are still trading.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to: Information Request Assessor, Thanet District Council, P O Box 9 Cecil Street, Margate Kent CT9 1XZ, or send an email to foi@thanet.gov.uk.

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF"