THE alternative to investigating a new 'community' stadium is “to live in mud huts”, a councillor said last night, as clashes over public spending on the project intensified.

A Liberal Democrat proposal to bring a halt to the £750,000 investment, earmarked by Wycombe District Council, was rejected at a scrutiny committee meeting.

But councillors will have to justify the cash again, once the £500,000 mark is hit, as part of recommendations made to Cabinent members.

Emotions ran high as the motion was debated.

Lib Dem Leader Cllr Steve Guy asked, with impending cuts to hit services this year, how WDC could continue spending on a "speculative" venture.

Cllr James Malliff, Tory, criticised the Lib Dems' standpoint and said: “As a Tory we're all about delivering value for money. If we are spending money it has to be for the best reason and this is it.”

He said £750,000 was “almost immaterial" in relation to the council's £120 million budget.

“People may think it's a contentious point but in percentage terms it's fractional.

"I think this money is very well spent," he said.

Lib Dem Cllr Trevor Snaith argued the money should should not be "frittered away", adding "we're spending money on a dead duck.”

Cllr Simon Bazley, Conservative, blasted him, saying he did not appear to understand the difference between revenue budgets – which comes from council tax - and capital budgets for 'bricks, mortar and buildings'.

He claimed the meeting had become the “Cllr Guy and Cllr Snaith show”.

  • THE £750K QUESTION

    The council has long insisted, contrary to critics' claims, this money has not come from council taxpayers.

    The £750,000 budget comes from WDC's capital programme.

    Up to £500,000 is being used to cover the cost of the planning process.

    Feasibility/project work up costs up to £250,000 – which has been match-funded by Wycombe Sports Development Limited.

    £20,000 has been spent on public consultation.

    The £750k was generated through a mix of WDC's property activities and investment income.

    Local authority financing rules dictate capital monies can't be used to pay for revenue and outgoings, nor to reduce council tax.

  • CABINET MEETING

    Will take place on Monday at WDC offices in Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe. Public can attend.

    Cabinet will consider:

    A) The consultation results, report and its recommendations.

    B) Recommendations from scrutiny committee.

    If Cabinet members decides to move forward with the project, it would pave the way for a planning application.

In a passionate defence of the council's actions an “astounded” Cllr Ron Gaffney, Conservative, said: “Sometimes you have to spend money to make money.”

“Sometimes you lose sometimes you win, the alternative is to do nothing and live in mud huts."

Otherwise High Wycombe may still be a village and projects like the Eden shopping centre and the Swan Theatre may never have happened, he said.

He also added he wished Sir Richard Branson could hear the discussion.

Cllr Guy, who used to work for one of the multimillionaire's companies, said Mr Branson would never invest in stadium because it would be 'too risky'.

He questioned why the capital budget could not have been used refurbishing Holywell Mead or Bassetsbury Manor instead.

Conservative Cllr Darren Hayday said it should not be a political debate and argued the clubs should be financing the venture without council involvement.

He said: “I basically agree with Cllrs Guy and Snaith that we should pull the plug, it should have been pulled a long time ago and I'm embarrassed.

"I know it will upset some of my colleagues but I don't care."

Cllr Paul Rogerson, Conservative, said it would be “wrong” to put "handcuffs" on the council, even if he was dubious about the plans.

The only councillors to support the Lib Dem motion were Cllr Margaret Draper, Labour, Cllr Hayday, Tory, and Cllr Ray Farmer, Lib Dem.