DARWEN’S Town Centre Partnership should contribute to the flower displays that brighten up its main retail and heritage area, Sudell councillor Roy Davies believes.

The Liberal Democrat told last week’s meeting of the town council, which was considering tenders for floral decorations, that cash given to the partnership by the Mary Portas Review into high street shopping should be used to help pay for it.

Cllr Davis said that out of the £30,000 grant given in 2012, to upgrade Darwen town centre’s shopping, £11,000 still remained.

He said: “We spent nearly £15,000 on flowers for the town centre last year from our budget.

“I understand there is still £11,000 of the Mary Portas money left unspent.

“Some of that should be spent on a contribution to the town centre flowers, which make the area and its shops more attractive to visitors.

“I am only talking about a small contribution, perhaps £2,000. The money saved could then be spent on other things in Darwen.”

Town council chairman Trevor Maxfield and Sunnyhurst councillor Dave Smith, who sit on the partnership board, agreed to look into the matter.

The council meeting agreed a draft budget for the coming year, which involved the precept levied on the the council tax of Darwen residents being frozen at £122 for the coming financial year of 2015/2016.

Last year, the flowers cost the council £14,785.80 and the meeting discussed two tenders for this summer’s floral displays and plantings – one of around the same sum and one slightly less.

A final decision will be made at the next meeting of Darwen Town Council on Tuesday, February 3, when the position regarding the Mary Portas money has been clarified.

Cllr Smith said: “I will make inquiries into whether there is any money left from the Portas grant and whether we can use it for flowers and report back to the next meeting.

“I am not sure whether there is any money left, whether it is earmarked for anything and if the rules of the grant allow it to be spent on flowers and planting.”

Tow council finance chief Pete Hollings agreed to look the cost at various events held during the year in a bid to save money which could be spent on other projects such as the war memorial maintenance and £1,000 extra for the dance festival.

Major spending items agreed include £25,000 on parks, £30,000 on Darwen Live and £4,000 on the food festival.