Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Car Came to Promote Council Employees’ Wallingford Show!

The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Car hired by Henley Town Council on 16 December was promoting a musical show that HTC’s Communications Manager, Daisy Smith and Town Clerk, Sheridan Jacklin-Edwards are starring in Wallingford in March.

There is no record of the HTC’s Events Committee discussing this proposal prior to the booking and we have raised with HTC whether the proper decision making process was taken and questioned was this was not a conflict of interest of a Council employee.

The cost of £750 was taken from Council expenses and not sponsored by any organisation.  The owner was also promoting the hiring of the car for other events.

HTC Town Clerk, Sheridan Jacklin-Edward responded by saying, “It was the Town Centre Manager’s (Paul Carey) suggestion to bring the car into the town, to complement the other fantastic Christmas festivities; to encourage footfall into the town to support our businesses; and to bring a bit more joy to the local community. I’m glad you like it, and I’m sure you’d agree from the reception on social media that it was extremely well received. The cost is from the Town Centre Manager’s delegated budget.”