Manston Kent Council’s Mystery Money

I’ve bought up the subject of Kent councils apparent involvement in Manston more than once but earlier this week; I thought I would have one last attempt to get clarification from Kent Council as to how much money, if any was actually spent on the aborted Flights from Manston to Virginia scheme.

I rang the councils press office, the guy I spoke with, confirmed once again that no money from Kent taxpayers or owned on their behalf had been spent, now it maybe me maybe I’ve gone doolally because I just could not believe what I was being told and here is my recollection.

The spokesperson would not concede that money, belonging or held in any sort of trust for council taxpayer, had in anyway been used for this project. What he did say was this and it sounds like complete nonsense or bollix to me, money had been spent, however the wonga came from a development project.

Now at this point I went into responsible parent mode and wanted a detailed explanation as to where the money had originated (you know how young children find money lying about the house and just naturally assume its there for the taking (like the house keeping)).

It seems that at some time in the past KCC had invested money, which we both seemed to agree was Taxpayers money in West Malling. Since that land has been developed, and money generated from the profits, has now apparently mutated, having no link with the people of Kent it’s no longer our money, its “regeneration money”.

Now the economic theory behind this is probably beyond me, and I guess the spokesperson sensed this, looked at the clock and realised there weren’t enough hours in the day to explain and the conversation wound up.

I’ve had time to consider this and this is what I think, KCC are being reticent because they have created some breakthrough economic theory, simply put they have created what I call “Magic” money, they have the ability to take money from one source and through some secret process make new money which they don’t need to account for.

Maybe I’m a just muggle and perhaps KCC is populated with wizards and magicians but even so, its sad that politicians and local authority employees, can’t be more open, if as most people seem to suspect an expensive cock up, has taken place why not admit all in one go.

Finally refusal to be open about this business, just looks arrogant, admittedly there is little the voter can do, you could try the audit commission or is it the district auditor I contacted them over the Turner thing, I think as every drop of money was accounted for, as is slipped into the sea there was nothing to worry about.