COUNCILLORS have decided to continue using a school hall for their meetings at a cost of £470 a month - a whopping £435 more than their pre-Covid venue.

It was decided at its latest meeting that Wellington Town Council would continue to use Court Fields School’s main hall for meetings for the rest of the current 2021-22 financial year as it was bigger than its previous venue at the United Reformed Church Hall and aided social distancing.

But the WWN has discovered that the cost of hiring the two venues differs greatly.

Although no mention of the costs involved were mentioned during the debate at the latest council meeting a couple of councillors inferred that it would be cheaper to return to the United Reformed Church.

The WWN asked town clerk Dave Farrow for the costings of the two venues and he admitted there was a big difference.

Mr Farrow said the cost of hiring Court Fields School was £120 and the use of a proper sound system was an extra £350, while the hire of the smaller United Reformed Church Hall for the monthly one-night of meetings was just £35. "It is significantly more expensive, but Court Fields is the only venue that could accommodate us and allow for social distancing and ventilation, and allowing members of the public to attend safely," he said.

Mr Farrow said the use of the sound system was needed to allow everyone in the hall to hear what was being said.

The first time the council met at the hall without a proper sound system caused countless problems.

Mr Farrow added that the cost of the hall and sound equipment would come from a Covid budget which the council had implemented for 2021-22.

But, nevertheless, the cost of hiring Court Fields and equipment for the meetings from January to March will total £1,410 - in comparison to just £105 had the council used the United Reformed Church Hall.

Cllr John Thorne, speaking at the council meeting, said: "We either stay here (Court Fields) or go back to the United Reformed Church. I favour returning to the United Reformed Church rather than spending money on the hire of this place and sound equipment. I know the church hall is smaller but we can take precautions."

Cllr Mike McGuffie said he took the ’opposite view’ to that of Cllr Thorne with the nation still in a state of uncertainty about the Covid situation and new variants.

"We should stay here (Court Fields) up until the end of the financial year," he said.

Cllr Ross Henley said: "I think we should stay here as well as I find the United Reformed Church is claustrophobic. It’s much airier here and feels more appropriate considering the ongoing situation."

Cllr Sean Pringle Kosikowsky said he would have agreed with Cllr Thorne until recently when concerns were first highlighted about the new variant.

He said they should remain at Court Fields but added that he thought the costs involved in hiring the hall were ’over the top if you ask me’.

The situation will be reviewed at the council’s March meeting.