A council meeting to discuss allotment rent rises “descended into a farce” on Tuesday night, according to one councillor.

The scrutiny panel was reviewing an executive decision to increase rents by 12 per cent, after a 108-strong petition called for it to be brought back for further consideration.

Allotment holders gathered in the public gallery and prepared speeches in an attempt to persuade councillors to send the proposals, part of the Green Spaces Strategy, back to the executive.

But Councillor Nick Kilby blasted the report when officers revealed during the meeting the rise only applied to allotments managed by Quadron, which clears overgrown plots, collects rents and administers grounds maintenance.

Unaware the rises did not apply to voluntary-run sites, Declan Terry, vice-chairman of Kingston Horticultural Society, said: “It is wrong for any public body to increase its charges for any service by such a large amount at a time of record low inflation.

“They are doing a lot to encourage the next generation to cherish the land and its resources in the years to come. Such large increases could put this in jeopardy.”

Because it was not made clear in the reports that the increases did not apply to all allotment holders, residents attended the meeting under false pretences.

One said they were a “happy bunny” on finding out they were exempt from the rent hike.

But Coun Kilby expressed his embarrassment they had been dragged to the meeting unnecessarily.

He asked Councillor Bob Steed, portfolio holder for environment, sustainability and climate change: “Do you think it’s fair to say that if you had taken more notice of the report and had made sure that it said it only applied to directly managed sites, we could’ve laid a lot of minds at rest and not made these people come here tonight?

“I have complete sympathy for everyone that’s come here tonight because of our sloppy reports.”

Coun Steed said: “The papers were there even though I didn’t mention it in my speech.”

It was revealed the total value of the proposed increases were worth £1,854, which was met with a shocked reaction from shadow councillors.

Coun Dennis Doe said: “That isn’t even a flea bite in the council’s coffers.”

After much debate, the panel voted to send the proposals back to the executive, where a final decision will be made.

Coun Kilby said: “The executive will now do what they want but at least the people have had their chance to hand in their petition and have their say.”

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