COUNCILLORS are set to rubber-stamp how more than £120,000 in community grants will be spread out across Bradford West over the coming year at a meeting this week.

The Bradford West Area Committee will allocate the money to various voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations in the form of Community Buildings Grants (CBG).

A total of 19 organisations requested a combined sum of £253,880, but the budget for 2017/18 was capped at £122,800.

That figure is due to remain the same for 2018/19 subject to funding being available.

As part of its budget decisions in February last year, Bradford Council agreed to reduce the discretionary support available to VCS organisations.

Three specific reductions included the removal of rent subsidies for such groups, a reduction in community development grants, and the removal of business rate relief.

A proposal was made to merge the remaining support available into one CBG and devolve the decision-making powers in terms of allocation to area committees.

Of the 13 groups set to receive some form of grant, the highest is Grange Interlink with £22,000 from a request for £34,000, Girlington Community Association with £17,500 from a bid for £35,064, and the Thornton and Allerton Community Association, which is set to be allocated £15,000 after asking for £21,000.

Sajad Hussain, community development officer at Grange Interlink, said while the centre would be grateful for the money, the majority of the grant would go straight back to the Council after its rental costs were increased from £2,000 to £18,300 a year.

“This looks like good news, but when you bear in mind that more than £18,000 is paid out in rent, it leaves around £3,000 for core costs, which is not a lot of money in the context of running a community centre that serves thousands of people every year,” he said.

“Excluding wages, it comes to less that five per cent of our running costs.

“While we are grateful to the Council and the Bradford West Area committee for the £22,000, it is someway short of what we applied for.

“The Council is giving with one hand and taking away with another.

“It is a constant fight to raise the amount of money we need.”

The committee meets at City Hall at 6pm on Wednesday.

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