CHANGES to the timing of a key council cash pot could leave some community groups in Argyll and Bute out in the cold, a councillor has warned.
A report has suggested that the council’s supporting communities fund should seek applications between March and May from 2025, instead of by a February deadline.
It is also proposed that the authority’s area committees award funds between August and September, when they usually do so in April or May.
But Councillor Gary Mulvaney (Conservative, Helensburgh Central) expressed concerns over the proposed changes, saying that it may not fit in with the work of some community groups.
The £90,000 fund, spread equally over the four administrative areas of Argyll and Bute, attracts over 100 applications every year, with a maximum of £2,500 per bid.
The discussion took place at a meeting of the authority’s policy and resources committee on Thursday, December 5.
Councillor Mulvaney said: “The change in timescale does give me some concern, especially for groups looking to do specific things in the early part of the financial year.
“I know you have said you will look at it, but bear in mind things are approved by area committees and some groups may be underway in terms of planning.
“The winter festivals in Oban and Helensburgh are like the Forth Road Bridge – once you have finished one, you are starting again.
“So I am concerned about how we will manage that so that we do not put groups off applying. I would be interested to hear how it will be structured so nobody is adversely impacted.”
Council engagement and communities lead Suzanne Mason responded: “We will be working to identify the groups that might be impacted by the change.
“It could be more of an impact this year, but if the change is permanent, next year is something that could be planned for. We could work with the groups that are impacted in the short term.”
Councillor Mulvaney then said: “I get the point, but it does not give me any assurances, because it is the area committee that makes the decisions.
“There are two solutions as far as I can see. One is delegation to the area committee chair and vice-chair, or the council do not implement this until the following year and allows the current practice to continue. Having two award sessions would mean nobody is adversely impacted.
“There are a range of actions and it would be good to hear about them so that we do not end up with groups saying that they need to know.”
Ms Mason said: “The idea was to bring more detailed proposals in February, to allow budgets to be confirmed, which the revised timescale would allow for. We can go back and look at other options.”
Executive director Douglas Hendry added: “If it is helpful, I think that answer fits in with the recommendations. There will be a report back to the policy and resources committee in February.”
Councillors then agreed to the recommendation to allow a further report to come to the committee’s next meeting in February.
