Comments on: Hebden Royd Budget 2010/11

By: Chris Sawer

Chris Sawer — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:39:53 +0000

One other thing, you've suggested that money is spent on "what Councillors happen to think is appropriate". In fact, there is a strict set of published criteria which Councillors apply. There is absolutely no favouritism involved, and if a Councillor has any kind of involvement with the applicant then an interest will be declared and that Councillor won't vote on the application.

By: Chris Sawer

Chris Sawer — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:01:15 +0000

Fair point. Although, to be honest, you could say that about most things the Town Council spends money on.
I’m not actually on the grants committee, but from looking at their minutes, the range of clubs, societies and groups that benefit from the grants is huge, many of whom receive relatively small sums of money. Many community organisations can’t survive through membership subscriptions alone. One example would be the Friends of Nutclough Woods who have received grants to buy tools. They have a small membership and don’t own the woods. They can’t charge the dog walkers and ramblers who pass through, and if they were to spend their weekends trying to fundraise they would never have time to do the work necessary to keep the woods maintained. With help from HRTC (and other sources), they are able to keep the woods in good condition for everyone to enjoy.

By: Hywel

Hywel — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:22:01 +0000

“These grants are extremely popular”

Of course they are – giving away money always is. Shouldn’t the Town Council have a bigger raison d’etre

I don’t understand why just short of a quarter of the whole spending of the Town Council basically consists of little else than taking money from people with one hand to spend it on what Councillors happen to think is appropriate.

(Interest duly declared as a player from Hebden Bridge CC