COMMUNITY groups supported by Copeland Council will continue to receive funding for two more years.
The council’s leadership voted on Tuesday to extend its support for organisations for two more years.
Funding will be offered for an additional year to the traditional annual grant to provide a safety net as Copeland Borough Council prepares to handover to Cumberland Council.
Every year Copeland Council provides financial support to Citizens Advice, Cumbria Law Centre; Millom Rec, Egremont Market Hall and Equality and Inclusion.
Citizens Advice receive £32,000 annually from the council, Cumbria Law Centre receives £15,000 but has received a £5,000 top up in the current year due to the challenges of Covid-19.
Executive member Councillor Andy Pratt, said: “This is the historic way we’ve made payments to groups that do work on the council’s behalf.
“Slight change to this year, what we’re proposing is that to give some of the groups some security leading into local government reorganisation, that we pass a two-year period of award rather than just the one year so that it gives them comfort going into the Shadow Authority.”
He said: “The payment will still be spread over the two years.”
Grants will be paid from April 2022 to March 2024 after which point the new Cumberland Council will become responsible.
Amanda Starr, the council’s head of housing and inclusion said: “These grants are vital at the moment, especially given the external economic climate.
“We do receive annual reports from the people who receive them. We’re very confident that it makes a huge difference. We’re hoping to mainstream this activity as we go through LGR.”
Executive member for commercial services Steven Morgan said: “I’d like to confirm that it’s legal for us to obligate the council for something that goes beyond the term of the present council, I support the concept and the motion but I am somewhat concerned about the legality of it.”
Officers advised councillors that the move would not be unlawful as the funding is already budgeted for.
The executive voted unanimously in favour of extending its support to community groups for two more years.
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