You would think that finding you had an extra £185,00 in your pocket was good news, but it caused some fierce wrangling in the Town Hall, when Maidstone councillors argued over what to do with the money.

At the end of the 2017/18 financial year the borough ended up with an unexpected surplus - thanks mostly to bigger than expected receipts from parking charges.

The Conservative members of the policy and resources committee were in favour of squirrelling the money away in reserves, which might help reduce any Council Tax increase next year.

But the other parties favoured spending £80,000 of the windfall this year, and only tucking away £105,000.

In particular they proposed spending £40,000 engaging a new heritage and culture officer on a one-year contract, who would boost support for the museum and other heritage projects in the town.

They also wanted to spend £10,000 on consultants who would look to find ways to expand nature reserves in the borough, and look at extending existing Area's of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or creating a new one for the Greensand Ridge, as recently proposed by Cllr Tony Harwood (Lib Dem).

Finally, there was a proposal to spend £30,000 to investigate ways of improving air quality in the town.

Cllr John Perry (Con) said he was not against any of the projects in principle but was concerned that the council was "acting like a bunch of punters who had had a good day at the races" in its dash to spend the money.

Cllr Val Springett (Con) agreed. She said: "We seem to be rushing into this" and suggested that if the money were to be spent at all there were other causes equally worthy. She said:" Many people would like to see the verges cut more often."

Cllr Matt Boughton (Con) was concerned that the third proposal - spending £30,00 on air quality - had been sprung on councillors at the last minute as an urgent update report given to councillors as they arrived at the meeting. He said he objected "in principle" on being asked to vote for something he had had no time to properly consider.

Cllr Fran Wilson (Lib Dem) said: "We now have a little bit of leeway to do some of the things that people have been crying out for."

Cllr Gordon Newton (Independent Maidstone) said people would welcome any protection for green areas to stop them disappearing under a mass of housing, while Cllr Derek Mortimer (Lib Dem) said there was a urgent need to do something about the town's air quality.

Cllr Annabelle Blackmore (Con) said the proper time to consider such expenditures would be at the Local Plan Review in a few years time, meanwhile the money should be set aside.

Finally, Cllr Malcolm McKay (Lab) said: "We can either talk more, or do more." before proposing a motion to spend the £80,000 as allocated. His motion was passed by eight votes to seven.

Tory group leader Cllr Perry said afterwards: “We are disappointed that the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Independent councillors chose to pursue their own pet projects without any detailed

justification for them."