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Shepway Council monitoring officer, Peter Wignall's advice and view over the announcement by Hawkinge Parish Council Chairman, David Callahan that the Spitfire Leisuredrome was being used to store antiques and bric a brac, is that it would be best if the council sat down with Cllr Peter Smith and tried to sort it out.

But the parish council has already voted at the April monthly meeting to report the matter to the Standards Board for England.

A Shepway spokesperson said that if the matter is referred to the Standards Board for England, and if the board decides it is worthy of investigation it would come back to the council’s own standards committee to look at.

In view of a possible liability for council tax the Shepway spokesperson said in correspondence that if the council is not charging rates on the building - or if there is a reduced rate in place - the storage of furniture could change this position and potentially it could be subject to a rate charge.