$500 for Off the Leash

Off the Leash Theatre will receive a $500 Baw Baw Shire sponsorship grant for its new show.

However, a request for sponsorship $2500 from the Baw Baw Business and Community Network was denied by council.

Council last year introduced a Community Funding Assistance Program that includes an event sponsorship category.

Council received two requests in February and March.

A report to council last week said the Baw Baw Business and Community Network Events requested $2500 to sponsor four networking events in the shire.

Officers said the most recent dinner on March 29 required participants to purchase a ticket to attend. Council previously sponsored the organisation for a number of years until 2015.

Off the Leash Theatre requested $500 to sponsor the production of its new show ‘Checklist for an Armed Robber’.

The theatre group is based in Warragul, as was the majority of the acting and production team. The theatre company will be part of the West Gippsland Art Centre’s ‘Outside the Walls’ season.

The show will be performed across four municipalities including Baw Baw, City of Yarra, Latrobe City and Wellington Shire and includes at least four shows.

Cr Michael Leaney said the Baw Baw Business and Community Network did not meet council’s criteria for sponsorships funds.

Cr Darren Wallace said council officers had evaluated both the requests.

He said because one of the requests was against council policy, he had no reason to doubt the officer’s recommendation.

Cr Jessica O’Donnell declared a conflict of interest in the matter.