The Liberal Democrats are gearing up to fight against significant cuts that threaten local charities and community support in North Yorkshire
Harrogate: The council’s new budget from the Conservatives is looking pretty grim. They plan to cut the £10,000 locality budget for each councillor in half. This budget is meant to help local communities, and on top of that, they’re raising council tax by nearly 5%. Ouch!
The Liberal Democrats are really upset about these cuts. They say it’s going to hit charities and community groups hard, leaving many feeling devastated. Councillor Andrew Timothy, who’s new to the scene, shared how crucial this budget has been for helping people in need, like those facing homelessness.
He mentioned that this funding has been a lifeline for various organizations in North Yorkshire, including food aid groups and schools. The idea is that any project applying for these grants should show how it benefits the local community. But with the cuts, the most vulnerable folks might suffer the most.
Another councillor, Steve Mason, echoed these concerns. He pointed out that these small grants make a big difference in the community, supporting everything from food aid to nature projects. Losing this funding would be a real blow, and many who rely on it would be heartbroken.
Leader of the opposition, Cllr Bryn Griffiths, also weighed in, saying these grants are essential for the community’s wellbeing. Without them, many groups would struggle to fund important projects that help improve lives.
The Lib Dems plan to push for a pause on these cuts during the budget meeting in February. They want to conduct a report to assess the real value these grants bring to the community before making any drastic decisions.
