By Jen Green

A DEAL to end the ongoing wrangle between Tenbury Tennis Club and the town council is being brokered by the National Association of Local Council's (NALC).

The long-running row kicked off over a 33% increase in rental charges for the tennis courts in April 2002.

Rejecting what was felt an unjust rise, the club refused to pay the full amount and held back £108.

In an effort to resolve the situation, Councillor Diann Dowell, paid the outstanding £108 for the club.

However, the town council refused to accept that the money had come from the tennis club and continued to label it as an outstanding bad debtor.

As the row has rumbled on the town council has discussed matters concerning the tennis club in confidential sessions.

The tennis club tried to settle the situation through the small claims court but this also failed.

Club chairman John Thomas "We don't understand why and in the public interest, we have continued to press for open and above board discussion. Perfectly proper questions have been asked on the club's behalf by some councillors which remain unanswered and I now believe that confidentiality is being abused."

Simon Health from NALC confirmed "We are not acting for Tenbury Town Council but we are currently giving them help and advice and hope they will act upon it.

"As regards confidential sessions and public interest matters in general this may be used when discussing contracts and certain financial implications if by discussing it in the open the council can lose any advantage."

"However, we definitely do not want councils to use these sessions to hide their problems."

John Thomas added: "If a deal on behalf of the council can be worked out to the satisfaction of both parties, then I am all for it, particularly if it gets us back on the tennis courts where we belong. To date we have heard nothing, and it's public money that is being wasted."

Tenbury Town Clerk Pat Buckley confirmed "NALC provides us with advice and assistance but their resources do not allow them to represent a council in the normal sense of the word."