IN the context of the millions spent by a local authority like Blackburn with Darwen Council £1,900 may not be an awful lot of money.

And there is no doubt that improving the quality of life for residents of a deprived area - and especially steering youngsters away from crime and vandalism - is vitally important.

But it is hardly surprising that the plan to send four people from a neighbourhood quango on a trip to Madrid has provoked strong criticism.

The people who are going to look at the work of the Tomillo Foundation are reasonably powerless when it comes to actually making policy decisions.

It is certainly sometimes worth looking over the garden fence for ideas and stimulation but surely one would expect decision-making councillors or professionals like police and community workers to be involved in such an important trip?

And why do the senior councillors we have spoken to appear not to have aleady briefed themselves about the foundation in the way this newspaper and opposition leaders were able to do very quickly via the internet?

There is no argument that life needs improving for people in Whitebirk and a lot of similar areas and the work of the Tomillo Foundation might well be an inspirational template.

But such a trip should be organised and publicly justified in advance so that no one is left with the impression that the group were quietly leaving for a junket.