A MAJOR row has broken out over the use of charity cash intended for old people in Ilkley.

One parish councillor said he was 'filled with horror' about the use of the interest on a £41,350 fund held by the charity Age Concern in Bradford.

At a meeting this week Councillor Pat Stevenson said that the fund, formerly known as the Old Peoples' Welfare Committee (OPWC) was taken over by Age Concern Bradford in November 1999 on the recommendation of the Charities' Commission.

"Most was held in shares and it wasn't until November 2000 that the last payments were transferred," said Coun Stevenson.

The money was intended solely for old people living in the former Ilkley Urban District Council area, which did not include the village of Addingham.

"I have found out that interest from that account is being put into Age Concern. It is in a designated fund to be used for old people in this area but interest on that account is to go to Age Concern in Bradford," Coun Stevenson added.

She said: "I was told it was for the maintenance of the fund."

Parish council vice-chairman Heathcliffe Bowen said: "I have listened to Coun Stevenson's report and the points she made - I have grave concerns about some of them. The fact that money is being moved of into administration is clearly not what that money was intended to do.

"For money to be going off into the pot fills me with horror - that was not what it was intended to do. The monies were to be distributed to the old people in Ilkley; this is clearly not happening."

But following the meeting the chief officer of Age Concern Bradford and District defended the charity's handling of the fund.

Carol Wooller said: "Age Concern Bradford and District received the former OPWC funds and the duty of managing them at the request of the Investigation Section of the Charity Commission.

"The Charity Commission officer made it clear to Age Concern that the money was not in the form of an endowment fund, and should be spent on the original object of the welfare of older people in Ben Rhydding, Burley, Ilkley, and Menston.

"We were not informed that the parish council was looking at this subject at its last meeting.

"Had we known, we would have been happy to send a representative to answer any questions.

"The suggestion that Age Concern is retaining the interest on this money for its own administrative purposes, to be spent outside the Ilkley district, is misleading.

"Age Concern has, in the years before and after receiving the OPWC funds, spent time and money from its own resources in the area, for example, in the provision of information services, the support and development of local voluntary projects, and some small grants to local voluntary groups. To assist the Age Concern Trustees in this task, a Wharfe Valley Area Advisory Committee has been set up by Age Concern with the help of Ilkley Council for Voluntary Services. The Advisory Committee has members from Ilkley, Menston and Burley (including Councillor Mrs. Stevenson), and will shortly be appointing representation from the Addingham area.

"These members agreed at their initial meeting in November that the first task was to find out how many older people there were in the area of benefit, where they lived, and what older people themselves wanted. The Advisory Group also wanted to find out what existing voluntary and statutory provision there was.

"As a result of such research, the Advisory Committee would then be in a position to not only to use the OPWC fund where it was most needed and where it would make a real difference to local older people's lives, but also to provide evidence to attract extra money into the area, including Addingham.

The Advisory Committee is meeting again next Monday, January 14."

But because they were unhappy about the use of the interest on the fund, parish councillors voted to write to Age Concern Bradford and the Charities Commission outlining their concerns.

Coun Stevenson said she wanted people to contact her with ideas of local sustainable projects which could be funded by the cash.