Councillors are 'burying bad news' ahead of by-election

Published on Thursday 16 October 2008 10:16

SENIOR councillors have been accused of "burying bad news" about massive funding cuts in north Edinburgh ahead of next month's by-election.

An announcement on the future of community groups reliant on the much-criticised Fairer Scotland Fund was due to be made this week. But a meeting of the funding panel was suddenly cancelled and postponed until after the November 6 by-election.

Charities and organisations will now have to wait even longer before finding out if they can survive, or how many staff they will need to make redundant.

Critics estimate north Edinburgh will lose 800,000 this year as a result of the Government's Fairer Scotland Fund, which has replaced seven previous grants.

The chairwoman of the Forth ward funding panel, Lib Dem councillor Elaine Morris, said a decision was postponed because SNP by-election candidate George Gordon, a Royston/Wardieburn community councillor, sits on the board. But political opponents said he could have been replaced.

Independent candidate and winner of Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack, John Loughton, accused Councillor Morris of delaying "bad news".

"This cancellation is entirely party-politically motivated and the best interests of the people of Forth have been blatantly ignored," he said.

Former Lord Provost Lesley Hinds said it was an "appalling way to deal with local groups", and Labour group leader Andrew Burns added: "Local organisations should not be suffering like this because of an impending by-election – it's not acceptable."

Community leaders are also known to be furious with the decision, but are afraid to speak.

One long-standing local activist said: "Organisations want to know which workers they will be shedding, or whether their service will continue."

Around 17 projects are thought to be at risk in north Edinburgh, which could include Pilton Equalities Project, the North Edinburgh Childcare Centre and the Granton Information Centre.

All organisations received funding for nine months from April during the transition process, meaning any redundancy notices to staff need to be issued shortly. However, because of the delay, groups in the Forth ward will receive cash until February.

Cllr Morris said it would be wrong to allow a by-election candidate to make funding choices.

"All local organisations have been given an opportunity (to put their case], and it has been an even playing field."

The council's north neighbourhood manager, Peter Strong, added: "I have decided that in order to avoid any accusations of possible conflict of interests it would be best to postpone the funding panel meeting until after the by-election."