ORGANISERS of Felixstowe's golden jubilee festival have received a £2,000 boost after the go-ahead was given for a controversial grant.The team behind the BBC Music Live event had feared the cash could be at risk after the decision to give it became the first ever to be "called in" for scrutiny at Suffolk Coastal council.

ORGANISERS of Felixstowe's golden jubilee festival have received a £2,000 boost after the go-ahead was given for a controversial grant.

The team behind the BBC Music Live event had feared the cash could be at risk after the decision to give it became the first ever to be "called in" for scrutiny at Suffolk Coastal council.

Cabinet member for community development, Jane Skepper authorised the money, but a block was put on it by two councillors, who wanted to know why it had been given and feared it could set a precedent for other events.

But now the finance and management overview scrutiny committee has decided the £2,000 cash can be paid.

"The committee was given a detailed explanation of the decision for the grant and was happy to give its backing to the council's support for what should be major regional event which I hope many people go to and enjoy," said chairman Christine Block.

"This is the first time that a decision has been called in under the new modernised style of Cabinet government at Suffolk Coastal.

"This procedure allows councillors to examine the background to an issue in a fair and open way and air any concerns they may have.

"We do have the ability to censure decisions but our most significant role is to seek more information and bring it into the public domain. There may be more 'call-ins' in the future but these will demonstrate that decisions will be open and accountable, both to other councillors and most importantly the public we all serve.

"Members were able to gain the reassurances they needed about the background to the grant decision.

"This is such a major event, with the backing of the BBC, that it goes beyond local celebrations and therefore is a special case. We do receive many requests for funding and it is important that we are seen to deal with all of them in a fair and consistent way."

Suffolk Coastal is supporting the event in a number of ways including allowing use of its land, providing temporary car parking, and assisting with some of the event administration.

The £24,000 festival is being staged on the seafront on June 3 and organisers hope 30,000 people will visit the resort to enjoy it.

It will feature more than 60 bands playing a wide range of styles of music, an It's A Knock-out competition, karaoke marathon, street entertainers, dance, air display, fireworks, beacon lighting, and live transmission of the Buckingham Palace concerts.