The funding of the Hanging Baskets is not as straightforward as it appeared.
From Jim Miller, Secretary.
To clarify, when we first decided to put up hanging baskets, we approached the grants committee for money to erect suitable brackets for same.Two grants over two years gave us the cover we now have. All approved several years before you [Eoghann] were elected. The grants for the brackets were approved on the understanding that the CC would seek out funding via donations to pay for the baskets, rather than go ‘cap in hand’ back every year for ‘basket money’ which a number of Cllrs thought was a good deal!That is what we have done up to and including this year. Christine Baillie and Chair Tom Howie are therefore both correct in saying that we have not sought any grant money for the baskets.However, no doubt due to the various fund raising events taking place in the village, which is fantastic, Tom Howie, commented on how increasingly difficult it was becoming to acquire donations, hence his Chairman’s comments that next year, if we wanted baskets, we might have to apply for a grant. Not what the original deal with the Council was about and not something we would want to do if it could be avoided!Regards Jim Miller, Secretary