A political row has flared up over an accounting error affecting the cash that councillors distribute on behalf of towns and villages.
Mistakes were made in the recording of Fife Council’s common good funds but the local authority insists no loss was made.
After SNP Rosyth councillor Douglas Chapman branded the error a “costly one” that must not be repeated, city of Dunfermline area committee chairman councillor Helen Law questioned what planet he was on.
Mr Chapman said it had taken four months to spend the year’s allocation of funds and reserves and another four to work out what had happened.
He has previously voiced dissatisfaction over the error concerning the fund, which he described as a financial lifeline for community projects.
He said: “The west Fife common good fund has nothing to give for the remainder of this year and it starts next year in a very much weakened financial position due to the extent of the funding applications agreed to in the first four months, between April and August.
“If a genuine error has occurred then it’s been a very costly one, as many worthwhile projects will now have to wait to have their application heard if they are considered at all in the future.”
Mrs Law responded: “I do not know which planet Councillor Chapman is on but, clearly, he cannot have much work to do if he feels that, once again, he has to go over the same old issues.”
She said it was inevitable limited funds available would be used up before the end of this financial year but stressed that extra staff resources had been put in place to ensure no repeat of the situation.
She added: “The common good committee is a cross-party group and members have worked together in a non-political way, trying to do the best for the communities we serve. There really is no place for this kind nonsense from Councillor Chapman.”
Accounting team leader Laura Robertson said: “Of the £303,000 available for disbursement this financial year, grant awards of £127,000 have been approved to date.
“The error will not impact on the in-year funds available for disbursement next financial year.
“There has been no loss to the common good funds; it was simply an error in the classification of income between revenue and capital balances.”