Mid Ulster District Council looks set to spend more than £100,000 helping local community groups upgrade their festive lights.
The matter came before a meeting of Council’s policy and resources committee on Thursday, November 3 as a report was presented to councillors on the committee detailing issues raised by the current recipients of Council’s festive lights fund.
The committee’s approval was sought to approve an allocation of up to £108,250 from Council’s capital fund as a one off capital allocation to current recipients of its festive lights fund.
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Council currently provides lights for the five main towns and has entered into a funding arrangement with the local community to provide Christmas lights across the rural areas of the district.
As part of the three year community grant review it became clear that among the 60 local community groups who partner with Council in the delivery of festive lights, one of the key issues faced is that it takes the full grant award and match voluntary contributions to install festive lights each year.
This leaves no funding available for renewing or replacing stock.
Members of the committee were told Council has, in the past, provided a small festive lights grant over and above this revenue support to allow for groups to add to or replace festive lights stock.
Officers have recommended that Council provides a fund this year for groups to purchase new or replacement festive lights including LED, solar and energy efficiency options.
The investment to each group/area would be up to a maximum amount of their current revenue allocation, which currently ranges from £1,250-£3,000 based on settlement size.
To make this grant possible, officers are seeking Council approval of a one off investment from its capital fund of £108,250 to the current recipients of its festive lights fund.
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