By Daniel Clark, Local Democracy Reporter
A row has erupted between political parties over which groups received more money from a local authority.
A leading Labour councillor at Nottinghamshire County Council has accused the Conservatives of prioritising private member clubs over those who help the most vulnerable.
There were 201 voluntary organisations, community groups, parish councils and charities across the county were given funding under the Local Improvement Scheme – worth £2 million to local organisations over the next three years.
And leader of the Labour opposition, Cllr Alan Rhodes, slammed the council for funding private members tennis and golf clubs instead of organisations that would help the vulnerable.
Conservative Cllr Gordon Wheeler, vice-chairman of the communities and place committee, responded by accusing Cllr Rhodes of trying to make mischief and that it was laughable to think money would be given to private members clubs without proper justification.
Cllr Rhodes said: “These are fairly large projects and important projects but there seems to be a real lack of projects that are being funded whose aim is to help those who are disadvantaged or for those who are going through poverty.
“Instead, the ruling Tory group are funding private tennis clubs and golf clubs – this is a real concern for us.
“When we were in control of the council, our priority was helping those who were disadvantaged.
“But the Conservatives have shown they are more interested in tennis clubs and golf clubs and cricket clubs than groups who help the less fortunate and those who are disadvantaged.”
Among the groups funded is Collingham Tennis Club which was granted £24,636 to build a new tennis clubhouse and broaden tennis appeal while Chilwell Manor Golf Club was given £15,000 for the development of a year-round practice area.
Cllr Rhodes added he had been denied access to a list of groups who failed to secure a grant and said he was having to put in a freedom of information request to find that information out.
Cllr Wheeler responded and said: “At the meeting last week, the committee were told they would be given a list of all the unsuccessful applicants and that list would not be in confidence, so the members of the committee would be able and free to circulate that list to whoever they liked.”
He also questioned why Cllr Rhodes was singling out these clubs when the list includes funding for providing a new community transport service to vulnerable and isolated people.
Cllr Wheeler said: “For all of the groups who were given funding there is an underlying reason as to why they have been successful in their application.
“The applicants had to demonstrate to the committee exactly why they were deserving of the grants and the tennis club said that they would broaden tennis appeal.
“The applications will encourage more people to play sport, tackle obesity and raise participation level.
“These grants will benefit a whole range of organisations and groups and there was no political influence at all in deciding these.
“The politicians had no input into the deciding of the groups on the list and the groups were decided upon by officers.
“A whole range of groups have benefited from this, not just those in ‘true-blue’ Tory territory.
“As if, we as a county council, would give money to a private members club with no justification or reason why.
“We will also be auditing this properly so if any of the groups don’t spend the money in the way they said they would, then they will have to return it to us.”
Applications have been checked very carefully and have included a review by independent assessors, a spokesman for the council added.
