The charity behind The Beehive has accused Honiton Town Council of pulling out of a key meeting to resolve an ongoing financial dispute.

Honiton Town Council's clerk has responded, saying the council has been trying hard for the last week to secure a meeting and he is unsure why a meeting could not take place.

The town council (HTC) and Honiton Community Complex (HCC), the charity which runs The Beehive, were due to meet to discuss an ongoing dispute regarding funds owed under the terms of the building's lease this week.

HCC have this evening accused the town council of trying to cut out the charity's chairman and finance director from the discussion.

Chairman Barry Simmonds commented: "We were due to meet with Honiton Town Council but two days before the meeting we received a communication from the council's lawyers saying that their client (HTC) 'requests that the meeting is with lawyers and between Mark Tredwin from HTC and Rob Sexton from HCC'."

HCC claims that in a message from HTC the charity was informed 'that the council were not prepared to meet if the HCC Finance Director was present, noting it was a red line for HTC'.

The charity has now declined to attend the meeting and a spokesperson said the charity has asked HTC to put any proposals in writing so that the charity's board can consider them.

Barry Simmonds added: "This is extremely regrettable – this issue is not about personalities but about having the right people around the table. I offer no comment as to what this indicates vis a vis Honiton Town Council's ongoing attitude towards the charity, its trustees and the current situation. We will, of course, continue to try to move forward and endeavour to present our ideas."

In response the council has stated it is happy to meet with any of the charity's leaders and it is unsure why a settlement meeting could not proceed.

Honiton Town Council clerk Mark Tredwin has responded: "HTC has been endeavouring to set up meetings with HCC over the past week. It was proposed that Rob Sexton was there because we were under the belief that Barry Simmonds was not available due to ill Health.

"When it became apparent that the chair would be available and that two other members of the board would be there it was agreed that council would meet with both Mr Simmonds and with Mrs Sexton. The council has not made it a requirement that they will only speak to Rob Sexton and are happy to talk to Mr Simmonds and Mrs Sexton.

"We are unsure why a settlement meeting could not proceed with Mrs Sexton and Mr Simmonds who is the chairman and a fully qualified accountant and we remain happy to speak with them to try and reach a settlement."

Last Friday (October 4) fears for the future of The Beehive surfaced after a shock announcement from Honiton Town Council, to find out more click the red button below.