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‘This chamber is a disgrace’: Limavady Mayor

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Limavady Mayor Sean McGlinchey.

A TOTAL of £20,000 of Limavady ratepayer's money has been set aside for a small grants programme, despite the best efforts of Sinn Fein.
The funding programme will offer small grants to schools and community and voluntary organisations within the Borough for projects or events inspired by three upcoming events: the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Olympic Torch Run; and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, which will centre around an extended weekend on June 2, 3, 4 and 5, 2012.
Grants of up to a maximum of £500 each will now be available for events for these three occasions, however the total amount of funding set aside for these grants resulted in a major row among Limavady councillors this week.
Sinn Fein Councillor Anne Brolly said she thought the amount recommended by the Director of Development Services, that of £20,000, was "excessive". She made a proposal that a total of £11,000 be allocated for the small grants programme.
She said that only a "small number" of people would consider themselves "loyal subjects" and wish to organise an event to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. She said she thought it would be appropriate to allocate £200 for a maximum of ten groups, equalling £2,000 for Royal celebrations. She said the Olympic Games and Torch Run were more inclusive events and would therefore attract more applicants and therefore suggested a total of £7,000 be set aside for those two events. She concluded by saying a further £2,000 should be set aside to cover additional council costs, for staffing for example, and concluded approximately £11,000 altogether be made available for the three events.
TUV Councillor Boyd Douglas, who once again had a small Union flag erected on his desk in the council chamber, said he was "ashamed" to listen to Councillor Brolly's comments. He said he thought the £20,000 recommended in the report was "not enough for such major events".
He said: "We contributed a lot of council money for a homecoming parade for a boxer from Dungiven and a lot of money to promote a talent show competitor from Dungiven. Maybe those who say they don't support the monarchy should look at the benefits they've all enjoyed from the monarchy. I thought we were supposed to be working together, they should share in our success."
DUP Councillor James McCorkell said he wanted to "avoid the politics of the issue and said these events will "give the Borough a real bounce in June and will help kick-start the Summer season".
He said: "I'm really excited about these events, the entire country is going to be celebrating and we want Limavady to be part of that."

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