THE Labour Party was accused of “skullduggery and petty politics of the highest order” as councillors voted for a controversial formula used to allocate funding to be reconsidered.

The decision of how to allocate public realm funding will now be reconsidered after new information came to light concerning the methodology used.

Conservatives were furious when it was announced last month that some of the funding would be allocated according to deprivation statistics.

This means that the most deprived wards would receive the most funding, while others were allocated much less money with Bromley Cross receiving nothing.

The money will be spent on improving public spaces and streets, including upgrading footpaths or play areas.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Cllr Bob Allen argued that the “better off” wards are entitled to similar facilities.

Labour councillor Nick Peel, who called for the issue to be referred back to Cabinet, said the the decision was not flawed, just the methodology.

The debate followed a scrutiny committee meeting last week in which Cllr Allen said the Labour group devised a “cunning, devious and underhanded plan” suspecting the Conservative group would condemn the decision at a council meeting.

Cllr John Walsh spoke of a “democratic deficit” at the council where leaders gave inadequate answers to concerns.

He said: “It seems to me that this process is becoming totally untenable in terms of transparency and democracy and the issue before us tonight serves merely to reinforce that view.”

Cllr Richard Silvester, who chaired the scrutiny committee, dismissed Conservative claims as “nonsense” and said the debate was within the spirit of the constitution.

His Labour colleague, Cllr Peel defended the decision to target funding according to areas that are most deprived.

Based on the formula, Rumworth would receive the most money (£153,890.73), followed by Farnworth (£139,321.19) and Halliwell (£137,500).

He said: “I need to make it clear to all members, we don’t consider the decision flawed, we consider the methodology that the decision was made on to be flawed. We stand by our belief in targeting funds.”

The decision to reconsider the public realm funding allocation was passed unanimously by councillors.

The cabinet member for Environmental Services assured councillors that the new information would be shared with all members and explained at a special meeting which is likely to be held in December.

He said: “We’re going to have this discussion again, and bring it on because I like nothing more than having a good old argument with the Tories about the nature of funding, you don’t believe that deprivation should be tackled with targeted funding.

“You don’t believe it, you are Conservatives, that’s what you’re there for. We do believe in it. And every single member of here will relish an argument with you over this. We love it. It’s why we’re in the Labour party, it’s why we get into politics.”

So bring it in on.

“That’s ding, ding, end of round one, and I look forward to seeing you all when we have round two.”