Time called on council’s charity Burns supper

North Lanarkshire Council is to cease holding its annual charity Burns supper after 22 years.

Members of the authority’s civic functions committee agreed the move at their meeting this week after hearing that “through changing circumstances it is becoming more difficult to secure sponsors, acquire donated gifts for raffles and stop attendance levels falling”.

The event has taken place every January since 1997, shortly after the council was first formed – and has since raised thousands for charities, with Children in Need being the beneficiary in recent years.

Councillors were told: “The purpose of this event was for elected members, companies and working partners of North Lanarkshire to come together and raise money for charity; £202,491 has been raised in total since 1997.”

Meanwhile, the same committee also agreed new limits for the cost of civic functions and events “to celebrate [ and] recognise specific occasions”.

Civic lunches and gifts and donations will now be capped at a cost of £500, with a £200 maximum for sponsoring charity events and up to £1000 for taking tables at charity functions.

A report for councillors noted: “The civic function budget has been considerably cut over the last few years, contributing to the council’s efficiency savings targets.”

No more The council’s charity Burns supper event has been axed after 22 years