A “STORM in a teacup” has brewed up over who spends £1 million of road cash in Colchester.

Will Quince, leader of Colchester’s Conservative group, has slammed a decision to have no borough council Tories on the local area highways panel.

But the Liberal Democrat leader of Colchester Council, Anne Turrell, insists the decision is not politically motivated but simply a balancing act to get the overall make-up right.

Each panel, which has £1 million to spend on local travel projects, has nine members, with four councillors each from the borough and county councils and one parish council representative.