A COUNCILLOR has urged Barnsley Council’s ruling Labour group to prove they are not ‘shunning communities’ outside the town centre in favour of continuing its multi-million pound regeneration.
Coun Hannah Kitching, who represents Penistone West for the Liberal Democrats, chose to speak out against the local authority’s spending in the centre which has included more than £200m on the Glass Works, £11m on the Jumble Lane footbridge and millions more already ring-fenced for County Way’s forthcoming transformation.
Her critique sparked debate last week and raised questions about where taxpayers’ cash is being spent after the Lib Dems’ bid to provide a bigger budget to the town’s six area councils was dismissed.
Coun Kitching proposed an amendment to the borough-wide budget, which would have seen an additional £50,000 per ward in revenue funding for area councils, increasing their funding to £150,000 annually.
However, having had her suggestion turned down, she’s now urged the local authority to show residents that they’re committed to investing elsewhere.
Coun Kitching told the Chronicle: “Area councils’ budgets have not been increased from their current £100,000-per-year amount since they were first set up in 2013.
“Residents tell me they’re fed up of seeing vast sums being continuously spent in the town centre but I think our area councils and ward alliances - those who truly know their communities - are unnecessarily struggling.
“Last week’s amendment was a common sense approach to dealing with their concerns but typically, the council deemed it fit to turn it down.
“If anything it’s just another example of their closed-door policy and it’s something residents will continue to see through.”
Coun David Greenhough, who supported the amendment, said area councils’ limited funding is proving to be a hindrance for commissioning localised work.
He added “As the chair of Penistone Area Council I see first-hand how effective they can be.
“Not just on engaging with residents, parishes and other stakeholders via the ward alliance, but on maximising the return of every penny of investment.
“There is only so much they can do with limited funding - and the amount of real terms funding available is lower than ever before.
“They simply cannot deliver the same services, such as the clean and tidy contracts that help keep our communities looking as they should, when they have to prioritise cost over quality of service.
“I want to see our area councils do more, not less.
“They should grow, thrive, and engage with and support our communities.
“I hoped our amendment would have received cross-party support to commit much-needed additional funds to every single ward in Barnsley.”
Sir Steve Houghton, leader of the council, said the budget prioritised front-line services.
“The forecast outturn for area councils for this current year is a £500,000 underspend - it doesn’t seem to be appropriate to start throwing even more money into an area that’s not spending what it’s got,” he said.
“I think we have to look at the overall picture here and there are frontline services that desperately need our attention.
“That is exactly, I think, what we should be doing with the resource the government has given us.”
