PARISH councillors in Gainford have agreed to increase spending on the village’s younger generation as part of budget plans for 2022/23.
Some £5,000 – up from £3,000 – has been set aside specifically to fund activities for children and young people. In the past 12 months, the parish council has organised a number of sports events during school holidays which have proved popular.
In proposing an increase in spending on future activities, Cllr Sarah Hannan asked for the fund to be earmarked for children and young people rather than just for youth and sport.
“We don’t want to create an expectation that it’s sport and a lot has been spent on a specific age group. There are other age groups.”
Cllr Simon Platten agreed and added: “We don’t want to wed ourselves to sport. It might change this next year.”
Other members supported the move, highlighting how the cash could then be used in different areas if other people brought ideas forward, such as youth theatre.
Councillors were told spending on young people could be increased without affecting council tax bills because £2,000 usually set aside for community building grants was not needed for 2022/23.
Clerk Martin Clark explained: “The council, some years ago, had an agreement with the village hall to support them financially where it could.
“It started off at £1,000 and then it went to £2,000 in case there were any other buildings that required assistance.
“The last time it was paid was to the Scouts. The village hall has not applied and I don’t expect them to this year.”
As a result, the £2,000 included in the current year’s finances would be moved to reserves.
The parish council agreed a budget of £37,671 for 2022/23, up just £386 on the current financial year, due mainly to an increase in grass cutting costs and some other fees.
It means a Band D householder will pay £74.24 towards the cost of the parish council as part of their council tax, up 62p.
Parish council chairman Cllr Andrew Wilkinson said it was a responsible budget and although residents’ tax bills would rise, once inflation was taken into account, it was in effect a drop in real terms.
Mr Clark said he had tried as far as possible to come up with the neutral budget.
“It is quite a difficult time for people,” he noted.
He said the biggest financial issue facing the parish council was to review its “quite large” reserve funds.
Figures before members showed the council has £13,000 in general reserves; £10,000 available for parish environment improvements such as planting schemes, signs, noticeboards and benches; £10,000 set aside for sports and recreation improvements; £4,000 for a village bonfire; £2,000 in a general contingencies fund; £2,000 for community buildings; and £1,500 for a replacement website.
Cllr Platten said there was nothing in the budget which recognised any work the council may do in response to climate change and global warming.
“There may be things to show we are playing our part,” he said.
Members agreed to include this in their financial review.
Cllr Wilkinson said this would give councillors the chance to think about “things which are important to the village” .
