High Wycombe politicians want councillors from other parts of the district to “keep their nose[s] out” of the town’s business when allocating money to development projects.

Members of the High Wycombe Town Council Committee met last night to discuss upcoming projects in the centre.

Yet committee members were frustrated that their recommendations from previous meetings had been “poo-pooed” by a district council panel that looks at the proposals.

The controversy surrounds the spending of community infrastructure levy (CIL) funds.

CIL is money that has been ring-fenced to fund additional infrastructure to support the development of the area.

Councillor Trevor Snaith, Liberal Democrat representative for Ryemead, said: “When I sit down and put together with the councillors what we want to do with our 15 per cent [CIL money] I don’t then expect to see a committee of people who are not actually made up of the town committee members then actually saying ‘oh we don’t really like this one and we don’t really like that one’.

“I’m sorry, we have decided how we want to spend the 15 per cent, the same way a parish council decides how they want to spend it. Basically, keep your nose out is the message to you.”

He added: “I would appreciate it if when we sent stuff through you would do what you promised as a cabinet and you just rubber stamp what this committee wants.”

Neil Marshall, the cabinet member for planning and sustainability, was at last night's meeting and was a member of the panel which made alterations to the town committee’s recommendations.

Councillor Marshall, Conservative representative for Marlow North and West, said the panel has to consider proposals in the context of the wider community.

High Wycombe councillors challenged Councillor Marshall on the lack of toilet facilities on The Rye, as well poor community facilities in Councillor Lesley Clarke’s ward, Abbey.

Councillor Marshall responded: “We need to see that there is money coming forward that will carry the project through. We don’t want to spend money on feasibilities if there is not going to be the follow up to that coming forward.

“This 15 per cent money that you have, it’s not that you lose it or you’re not allowed to spend it, we roll it into the next year.

“And when we think there are funds there to carry a project through, we’ll give it the support.”

Councillor Marshall added: “We are not saying ‘no’ we are just saying that we need more work to look at what’s coming forward.”

However, some High Wycombe politicians felt that the town’s interests were being forgotten.

Councillor Snaith added: “You are not doing the right things for the town. You are doing the right things for Marlow and other places. I wonder why.”