Local authority could miss out on thousands

Local projects that were to be supported by funding from South Cambridgeshire District Council may now not be receiving their expected contributions.

�9million worth of government funding was given to Cambridgeshire in 2008, and half of this has been allocated and spent by the county council on community and voluntary sector led projects.

Of the �9million, SCDC was allocated nearly �1million, with �400,000 already having been spent. The authority had planned to issue the remaining money to supported organisations from April 2010.

However, this cannot now be done as central Government is making a decision as to whether they will actually give the money, causing a delay to the process and some projects having to stop.

Cllr Ray Manning, Leader of the Council, said: “This is so unfortunate for those organisations across the district that we have pledged to support.

“Until the county council knows if the Coalition Government will give them the promised money, we can’t issue the funds.

“It would be unfair on the tax payers of south Cambridgeshire if we issued these funds, without knowing if we will ever be in receipt of the money we are owed.

Cllr Manning has already prepared organisations for the bad news by contacting them. He said: “We have written to all organisations affected to let them know of the situation. Unfortunately this is one way in which we as a district, and no doubt these local organisations, are feeling the pinch right now.

“We are exploring all avenues in the hope we can still help these projects. Regardless, we will stay in touch with them throughout this process and let them know if the situation changes.”