Nats lose bid to reverse cut in grant funds

Council boss brands move‘bizarre’

Opposition councillors have hit out at reductions in grants to community organisations following last month’s council budget.

A majority of members on North Lanarkshire’s education committee last week approved funding recommendations for 2017- 2018, including a reduction of £120,000 in grants available.

It means that the 66 voluntary and community groups who have successfully applied for funds, including 16 from Monklands, will receive grants of 5-20 per cent less than last year.

SNP education spokesman Tom Johnston said: “We’ve seen how this council took very sudden, drastic action over Citizens’ Advice Bureaux grant support and in dropping all support for the One Stop Shop for Autism.

“These organisations were simply left to cope as best they could. The SNP group objects to similar cuts to these local organisations, who are expected to suddenly absorb £ 120,000 in grants cuts. This is unacceptable.”

He added: “This council can regularly find money at short notice when required. The £120,000 shortfall can be found in the council’s contingency fund.”

Council leader Jim Logue told the Advertiser: “The funding to volunteer organisations for this year is attributable to the fact that we had to find £27m in savings. There’s less money to go round and it’s only reasonable to look at grants to the voluntary sector.

“We’re not in the same position to give funding as in the past as there isn’t the same level of resource.

“All grants awarded are based on assessments and giving the same level of funding for 20 years creates a total reliance on the council, whereas we also want to be able to give support to new organisations and applicants who are contributing in the community and making a difference.”

SNP members unsuccessfully argued for the adoption of an alternative “standstill” option outlined in a report prepared ahead of last month’s budget.

That would have seen most grants maintained at the same level as last year.

But they were told the report had been superseded by the budget decision.

Councillor Logue said their move was “bizarre when the clear point of the full council meeting on that was to look at the consequential impact and consider any questions behind the questions”.

Councillors were told: “The budget available has been applied so that those who make a greater contribution to the council’s priorities have been less adversely affected.”

We had to find £27m in savings. There’s less money to go around.