'This community deserves better' - Two Walsall councillors resign from Labour Party over £20million government funding row
Two Walsall councillors have resigned from the Labour party amid a fall out over a £20m pot of government funding.
Councillors Paul and Chris Bott, husband and wife, both represent the Darlaston South ward.
In 2023, Darlaston was selected as one of 55 towns across the UK to receive £20m government funding as part of the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme.
One of the government’s requirements for the scheme was that a board of decision makers must be formed to decide how the money is spent.
But a long running row has continued over recent months about the makeup of the board.
Councillors Paul and Chris Bott have continually argued that the board should be community-led but they say residents have been ‘side-lined’ instead.
Out of 20 members on the board, three are residents of Darlaston, and two are from local businesses. The remaining members are officers from education, housing, health, West Midlands Police, Walsall Council and political leaders.
The Botts said they have been ‘let down’ by Pat McFadden, the labour MP for Wolverhampton South East which covers Darlaston, and the leader of Walsall labour group, Councillor Matt Ward.
