A COUNCILLOR resigned and stormed out of a parish meeting last night saying he was “ashamed” of the council for its “disinterest” in a church's youth service.

Vice chairman of Lane End Parish Council Michael Detsiny became frustrated after the council would not commit to give two years funding to a youth project in the village.

The Lane End Elim Christian Centre asked for funding of £6,500 each year for two years to provide a female youth worker but the council agreed it could only offer £4,000 for one year, but would consider another donation next year.

Cllr Detsiny said: “I would like to record my huge disappointment. In fact I will resign from the council.

“I believe passionately in young people- the people around this table generally do except for when it comes to fighting for them.

“We have got so much money in the bank we would afford to give five times what they asked for.

“I suspect it has something to do with it is the Elim Church. I am ashamed.”

Cllr Detsiny said it was “not so much about the money”. He added: “What appals me is there has not been a word of encouragement about the work that this church does. No-one bothered to go and see it.”

The Elim Church runs a youth service to help young people in the village and already has a full time male youth worker. It says to “meet the needs of the community” it needs a female youth worker.

The church would need to make up the rest of the money.

Wycombe district councillor Jean Teesdale said she fully supports Cllr Detsiny as the work the church do “is fantastic.”

She added: “We complain about young people hanging around and getting into trouble. This is a way of getting people involved in what really matters.

“Please don't complain when they are on the door and outside.”

Chairman Graeme Coulter said: “Clearly everyone around the table is a bit distressed about what has happened.

“I wouldn't wish for Mike to resign from the parish council. I will do my best to dissuade him as he would be a loss to the council.

“On this particular issues he was in a minority. I think we all recognise that. There is a concern about more difficult times and not wishing to make an absolute commitment in what we face next year.”