THE town council is considering giving up responsibility for Barney’s Poppy Appeal.
For years, Barnard Castle Town Council has co-ordinated volunteers for the appeal, last year raising about £16,000 for The Royal British Legion through sales of poppies and merchandise.
The Poppy Appeal is the Royal British Legion’s biggest fundraising campaign, with the money helping the charity work with members or former members of the Armed Forces.
But town councillors will discuss a motion by Cllr Laura Drew to hand over responsibility for the appeal to another group.
Her motion reads: “The council greatly values the work of the Royal British Legion and supports the Poppy Appeal. However, being the administrator of the local poppy appeal takes up a vast amount of office time, at a financial cost to the council, and for up to a month the council is in effect working for the Royal British Legion. This subsidisation of a charity sadly cannot be sustained in the current climate. Would the council therefore consider handing over its role as local administrator for the Poppy Appeal to another more appropriate organisation?”
Town councillors were due to debate the motion last week but put the question on hold because Cllr Laura Drew was unable to attend.
Mayor Cllr Rima Chatterjee said an extraordinary meeting may be called over the
matter.
