Vow to seek cash for cultural co-ordinator
Children’s champion MaryJean Devon has vowed not to give up on funding for Argyll and Bute Council’s axed cultural co-ordinator post.
The job was axed in the latest round of budget cuts to save £15,000, a decision that spread alarm and significant concern across communities - especially among parents, Mull Community Council has heard.
Community councillor Devon was responding to a comment by fellow community councillor Tracy Mayo, who highlighted the “huge disappointment” felt by all those not consulted and considered before the post, that brings in about £250,000 a year for cultural projects with young people, was given the chop.
Although Argyll and Bute says the job’s load will now be absorbed elsewhere in the council, the biggest concern is that it would end up being the responsibility of headteachers and other people already overburdened - which would not be an effective solution, the meeting heard.
Community councillor Devon said: “Our young people have had quite a traumatic time over the last few pandemic years. They’ve had lots of interruptions to their education. The CAMHS (Child and adolescent mental health services) wait list for our young people is horrendous. CAMHS will see a child if they are trying to take their own life or if they are self-harmed. This was my job in the council. I fought rings round CAMHS to get shorter times for our young people. A lot of them are suffering from anxiety and music was the one thing that was a calming influence on them.”
She added: “I can’t believe that the meagre substance that is Argyll and Bute Council can not fund this cultural role.
“It’s been a mess with the pandemic yet we’ve removed this vital service that brings so much happiness and comfort. I have written to the chief executive about this budget decision made for the paltry sum it was.
“We can pay a lot of money for Rothesay Pavilion when a slice of that money, a minute bit of that money, would have brought so much to our children. I feel so strongly. I’m not giving up on it.”
Argyll and Bute councillor for Mull Willie Hume said: “I could not agree with you more. It’s scandalous that they removed it to save just buttons.”
His fellow Argyll and Bute councillor Andrew Kain said the post of cultural co-ordinator was debated long and hard.
“There was discussion with Creative Scotland whether it would make any difference to the funding. The funding will still be sourced but through a different system. It might sound like it was saving peanuts but if it was not done this year, it would probably have to be done next year. The funding for the kids will not be affected.”
Community councillor Mayo said: “I would ask that consideration is given to how the community feels. We were excluded on this. Parents don’t want to take up petitions, they want to work with their councillors to find viable solutions.”