Montrose Community Council has cried foul after losing out in a burgh battle for common good cash.
Chairman Mark Cessford suggested there was no ‘level playing field’ after Montrose Community Council’s application for £1,247 from the town’s common good fund was recently turned down by the policy and resources committee.
The committee did however approve common good funding for £4,000 from Forfar’s pot and up to £6,500 from Arbroath’s coffers but Montrose lost out after its ‘one-off’ application was supported by just one of the town’s four councillors – the SNP’s Bill Duff.
The whole episode has once again stirred up the long-running argument as to whether common good funding should in fact be used to fund Christmas light displays.
Carnoustie Independent Brian Boyd put his flag firmly in the no camp by stating at the weekend that no common good fund cash should go to Christmas lighting displays because it encourages what he described as a “battle of the burghs”.
Mr Boyd said there should be a “level playing field” for Christmas lights as only four of the seven towns in Angus has a common good fund.
Mr Cessford said: “Whilst not giving my personal opinion on the views held by Councillor Boyd, I would like to reassure Councillor Boyd and the general public, that the fact that three of the burghs do not have a common good fund, does not necessarily mean that they are disadvantaged.
“I can confirm that on behalf of Montrose Community Council, an application was made to the Montrose Common Good Fund and quotes had been received for the mobile elevated work platforms that are required to erect and dismantle the lights.
“The approximate cost would have been £1,250.
“The application was refused support.
“Councillor Boyd will take some comfort from the decision taken, although it has been suggested by some of the citizens in Montrose that it appears that a ‘level playing field’ has already been overlooked.”
The council administers the individual common good funds.
As part of the budget cycle council services have the opportunity to submit bids.
Other organisations may make bids for funding from common good funds in accordance with the application process and guidance notes.
Mr Cessford said Montrose Community Council is working hard to ensure that the Christmas lights “will shine as in previous years” despite the common good blow.
He said: “It is hoped that these lights will be in place before the end of November.
“It does, however, offer no guarantee to erect all the lights that have previously been erected, nor that they will remain in serviceable condition for the duration of the festive period.”
He said the community council will review both “the practical and financial aspects of the current display once this up-coming festive period is over”.
“Montrose Community Council is keen to engage with interested individuals or companies who would be willing to join forces to create a stronger partnership, thus ensuring that future Christmas lighting displays can be maintained and indeed be enhanced in years to come,” he said.
“Montrose Community Council hopes that during 2018, everyone will help it embrace the challenge, and lend its full financial and moral support to the ongoing cause of providing Christmas lighting displays in Montrose.”
Mr Duff said: “I considered some modest Common Good support was appropriate in the first year that the community council had to fund lights.
“I was outvoted by other three Montrose councillors. That’s democracy.”
At the start of the financial year Arbroath’s common good fund was £651,276; Brechin’s was £590,694; Forfar’s was £631,193; and Montrose had a balance of £440,533.