News / Community councils left in limbo
SHETLAND’S highly regarded community councils say they have been left in limbo as they wait to hear how a fund of almost £70,000 will be shared out after council imposed cutbacks.
Community council chairmen are also warning that less money may stop local people volunteering and small councils may have trouble paying for a clerk.
In February Shetland Islands Council voted to cut community council budgets by 30 per cent, but on the casting vote of convener Malcolm Bell they agreed to ring fence that £68,000, making it available to community councils and community development groups for special projects.
However on Saturday when Shetland’s community council chairmen met up for the first time since the February meeting, they still had not heard how the fund would be operated.
Yell community council chairman Dan Thompson said the new financial year had already begun and they needed to start working on budgets.
“We have made it quite clear to the council that we would like this resolved quickly, otherwise it won’t be any use,” Thompson said.
Jim Gear, who chairs the Association of Shetland Community Councils (ASCC), said there was concern the new fund would waste money.
“If the administration is done in house by the SIC then the costs are likely to be significant, whereas if the money was still paid to community councils there would be no additional costs,” Gear said.
Shetland and Orkney’s community councils were recently held up as a shining example by the government for other parts of Scotland to emulate.
However for the past three years they have had their funding cut, causing some smaller community councils to worry whether they can even pay their clerks.
Gear said the SIC was making a false economy, as they received extremely good value from the work community councils carried out.
“They can deal with small amounts of money without huge administration costs and make sure it’s distributed in the areas of greatest need. To pull back from that is not a wise decision.”
ASCC administrative assistant Kate Massie added the continued cutbacks could deter volunteers from standing for community councils.
“The big fear is that because of the budget being cut again this year people will lose heart and won’t want to be involved,” she said.
“Hopefully we can continue to work in partnership with the council and keep the lines of communication open.”
No one at Shetland Islands Council was available for comment on Monday.
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