BUDGETS for Christmas lights look set to be increased after a council overspent by thousands of pounds over the last four years.
Councillors are set to decide whether there will be an increase of £11,080 in 2009 and £17,883 in 2010.
The move by Hyndburn Council’s Christmas decorations working group comes after it overspent by £5,245 in 2004, £16,246 in 2005, £15,334 in 2006 and £9,535 in 2007.
The overspend is despite £33,820 being set aside to light up the whole of Hyndburn for Christmas each year.
The additional cost was met by the local area councils’ annual budgets.
The money, which could have been used to improve gardens, was given to the working group to cover the cost of the lights.
The council was dye to look at the proposed increases at the cabinet meeting today.
Peter Britcliffe, leader of Hyndburn Council, said: “We can safely say Scrooge doesn’t live in Hyndburn.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here