TOWN councillors have demanded proof that they are getting value for money after investing nearly £50,000 in a regeneration body.

A breakdown of work done by the Richmond Swale Valley Community Initiative and a detailed plan of action for future years is to be requested.

Richmond Town Council has given more than £48,000 to the RSVCI and its predecessor, the town centre forum, over the last four years. However, some members were unclear exactly how much benefit the town had received from the investment.

A four-page report detailing the funding history went to the town council on Monday after Coun John Harris, its representative on the RSVCI, requested details. Coun Harris was not at the meeting but was to be given a copy.

Coun Stuart Parsons, the mayor, said the town council's funding was impressive, particularly when compared with that of much larger organisations such as Yorkshire Forward.

The RSVCI had spent a large sum on promoting the town and it was difficult to quantify the benefit from this.

A substantial amount had also gone towards consultants' reports, which were often demanded by major funders and organisations before a project could go ahead.

"That is why we need this report to try to work out exactly what has gone on and where the money has gone," said Coun Parsons. "The problem with any of these projects is that they do take time to work up, but my concerns are the visible signs of change such as notice boards and the improvements which have been made to shop frontages."

Coun Sheila Clarke said the town appeared to have fewer empty premises than before and a much lower proportion of vacant shops than Darlington.

Coun Parsons said that a report drawn up a year ago showed that, of nine new businesses that had opened in the town, eight were due to come anyway and had not been influenced by the RSVCI.

"We need to know whether we have had value for what is a huge amount of money for the town council to have allocated to one project," he added.

"If the facts and figures justify the investment, we can make a decision whether we wish to continue our contributions to the RSVCI.

"If we consider the outputs do not match our expectations, we will have to look at how we as a council are going to promote the regeneration of the town."

The town council had also supported the RSVCI with "in kind" contributions.

Four years ago, 800 residents volunteered to work on project plans drawn up by the town centre forum but this seemed to have dwindled to about 60, said Coun Parsons.

At a public meeting earlier this year, the RSVCI outlined the work it had already done in Richmond.

Colin Grant, town manager, said the organisation had helped attract more visitors, reduced the number of empty shops and improved the look of the town centre. The Richmond What's On leaflet and successful guided ghost walks had also been developed.

New projects supported by the partnership included the conversion of the old station building and the open spaces appeal.

A feasibility study into the potential of generating hydro-electric power had begun, linked to plans to light some of the town's historic buildings.