I hope the tea party held in Lota Park, Fishguard on Saturday June 20 was a great success and raised lots of much needed funds for the Welsh Air Ambulance and now trust that the organiser (Mrs. O’Hara – see letters 17th June) will not be offended when I say that I think Councillor Owen James may well have been correct when he suggested that the £1000 given by Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council to fund the event was an improper donation.

I do not believe that Councillor James agreed and later questioned his decision out of malice or perverseness but acted as a responsible town councillor concerned that his council was, on reflection, outside it’s remit in this instance.

In neither of the Town Council Minutes of the 5th or 19th June nor previously can I find any mention of a written request from Mrs.

O’Hara as is the correct procedure and should have been required of her at the time of asking for the donation.

Additionally on the website the Minutes do not appear to reflect payment of the £1000.

On the other hand it is made perfectly clear in the Minutes that Councillor James was out of order by not submitting a written request for the matter to be further discussed prior to the money being handed over.

The Minutes show the Clerk quotes “Section 137”

but does not explain – for the benefit of members of the public who may enter the website – that this is a quote from the Local Government Act 1972.

This Act governs how councils must show due diligence in regard to all financial affairs.

Unless I have missed a paragraph regarding donations within the above quote, I can see no instance where it is permissible to make a donation to any individual for the purpose of organising a fund-raising event on behalf of any particular charity whereas it is perfectly in order to donate to a trusted charity for the benefit of the community.

I am greatly concerned that this case in point may cause confusion and open the floodgates to similar requests from members of the public to Town and Community Councils that will inevitably leave councillors in utter quandary.

The retiring Clerk, Sarah McColl-Dorion, may well be familiar with many quotes from many sources but it is experience that counts not a few hours training with One Voice Wales and I am surprised that the more experienced Fishguard and Goodwick Town and County councillors did not reflect and reassure themselves before handing over £1000 of council tax money no matter how worthy the event or the unquestionable integrity of Mrs. O’Hara who was advised to make a genuine request to help fund the event.

Sheila La Croix

(Community Councillor)