THE Government is removing "unnecessary and burdensome" financial restrictions on parish councils, which will enable them to use electronic payments.

At a recent Whitehill Town Council meeting, members discussed the incoming legislation - welcoming the plans but describing them as "decades too late".

Local Government Minister Brandon Lewis annou-nced the Parliamentary papers last month to abolish the existing, inflexible "two-signature rule" that currently prevents parish councils from using electronic-payment methods and "wastes too much of council members' time".

The process of cheque signing is an emotive topic for the town council because it was by exploiting this dated method that former town clerk Trish Bell, currently serving a 28-month prison sentence for fraud, was able to steal hundreds of thousands of pounds from the council.

At a recent full council meeting, leader Andy Tree said the new legislation will stop fraud adding, however, that it is "too late".

For full story, see this week's Bordon Herald.