Sparks fly in row over Bulkington Christmas light switch-on event

[dutchman]

The annual events mark the count down to the festive season across the borough



Sparks flew in a row over council funding for Christmas light switch-on event in Bulkington. It was previously revealed that while the village will have its festive lights Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council said it could not afford to stage an official switch-on event.

The community has rallied to ensure that the switch-on can take place on November 22. But ward councillors Lubs Cvetkovic was keen to get to the bottom of why the council funding for the event was pulled.

The Conservative claimed that they were not made aware of the plug being pulled on the funding for the event, and said that information was only being posted on the Nuneaton Labour page on Facebook. He also asked the ruling Labour group to explain the financial reason behind it.

"Cllr Watkins (the council leader) has spoken of the need to save millions of pounds," he said "I hope the several thousand saved from Bulkington will be put to good use and not for frivolous projects.

"I would like to know apart from the cuts to Bulkington Christmas lights event, what other budgetary cuts have been made that we have not been made publicly aware of."

Cllr Steve Hey, cabinet member for finances, said: "The council is not going to be offering officer time setting up and cleaning up after the Bulkington light switch on event. The cost of this is fairly minor, around £2,000.

"Given the financial situation left by the previous administration, we are asking all communities that we work with to do as much as possible to help themselves, as part of support packages from the council. In other words, working together for the wider good. I don't think there is anything wrong with that."

Cllr Hey claimed that £22,000 was being spent on the village lights, something Cllr Cvetkovic later went on to refute, saying that money was spent on buying the lights in previous years.

In regards to the lights, Cllr Hey said that other areas that have village centres, such as Attleborough, Galley Common and Keresley do not have Christmas lights provided or any switch-on events.

He added that when the Tories were in power previously they asked for the community to take over the running of both Stockingford and Keresley Community Centres after removing funding, saying the council could no longer afford to run them in the long-term.

"You (the Tories) suggested that the community get involved, that is all that we are saying," Cllr Hey said.

"You asked for cuts and savings, please be assured that all will be revealed as part of the budget setting process for next year, which is now underway and there will be nothing frivolous about that," he concluded.

Cllr Cvetkovic went on to say that the Bulkington switch on event was not £2,000 as Cllr Hey claimed. Cllr Cvetkovic said it was more than £4,500 as they have to fund the clean-up and private insurance for the event.

[dutchman]

Lights switch-on saved after 'Grinch decision'



A Christmas lights switch-on event in a Warwickshire village has been saved after a "Grinch decision" by the council to withdraw some funding.

Volunteers have raised about £5,500 to fund Bulkington's event after Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council decided to remove funds for staffing and management.

Richard Smith, borough councillor for the village, said the switch-on remained an "important event for the village".

A spokesperson for the council said it had only withdrawn £2,000 and had still committed £22,500 to provide and install the village's Christmas lights.

The event will take place on Friday, featuring about 40 traders and a visit from the Nuneaton Grinch.

Mr Smith said: "They’re definitely a Grinch and I think they've lost the message of how important this is.

"Two thousand pounds is not a lot of money in the big context, so I'm not sure why the decision was made, but it was definitely a Grinch decision."

Ruth Ramshaw, from the Bulkington Volunteers Committee, said the group had worked hard to raise the funds to run the event.

"It's meant quite a few meetings and quite a bit of time," she said.

"We've managed to raise about £5,500 but we have exceeded the fundraising target that we had and so the event will go ahead."

A spokesperson for the council said they were "delighted" that the event was still happening.

"There are many villages in Nuneaton and Bedworth other than Bulkington and other wards that could reasonably expect to have a Christmas light switch-on event but do not," the spokesperson said.

"Our approach to all community groups needs to be consistent.

"The council cannot favour one area over another.

"We are keen to help and support local community groups and activities, but resources are stretched and going forward the council needs to ensure that taxpayers' money is spent wisely."