COUNCILLORS have supported a £1,080 funding application from St John’s Church in Wellington to help pay for “hospitality equipment” for services it provides.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s finance committee met on February 20 and unanimously supported the application.

There was some initial confusion when Cllr John Thorne thought the £1,080 being sought from the council’s cost of living budget was just to deliver “warm space” sessions for two hours a week and questioned whether it would be “value for money.”

Christine Winhall, of St John’s Church, was on hand to put the committee straight and said the equipment would be used for hospitality purposes for 10 hours a week and included sessions for the church’s Talking Café, baby and toddler group, as well as the “warm space” sessions.

Cllr Thorne responded: “This is very reassuring and I’m now fully supportive of this.”

The Mayor, Cllr Mark Lithgow, said it was an excellent example of how having someone from a group or organisation applying for funding at the meeting helped to iron out any queries.

“It makes a world of difference when someone from the group is actually in attendance and here to explain things,” he said.

Councillors supported the application, but a final decision would be made by the full council on March 6.