Member Article

Government sends money north of Watford Gap, gets confused

The government has overpaid a council by £2m after it got the wrong Newcastle. The money, a reward for promoting local firms, was given to Newcastle Borough Council in Staffordshire instead of Newcastle upon Tyne City Council.

The borough council was given more than £2.5m instead of just £600,000 and has been asked to repay the difference. The Department for Communities and Local Government has described the situation as a “regrettable error”.

Councillor Simon Tagg, leader of the borough council, told BBC News: “I am shocked that this has actually happened, that the government has got the two Newcastles mixed up. I think it’s extraordinary and shocking. I’m flabbergasted.”

Newcastle upon Tyne City Council has now received the full amount due.

Councillor Simon Tagg scores special bdaily points for the use of the word “flabbergasted” in a statement to the national press.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .