Dumbfounded by budget cut

Saddleworth District Partnership

COUNCILLORS have hit out at the reduced budget of the Saddleworth district partnership.

During the first meeting since the changes, members voiced their anger that cash for the partnership was being cut, yet at the same time they were being asked to fund more projects previously covered by Oldham Council.

Councillor John McCann said: “A great impact is the major cut in the total available budget from £146,830 to £114,000. There are also cleverly hidden reductions coming, as the Saddleworth and Lees tourist support budget of £16,000 is scrapped and it’s suggested the partnership might pick up the funding.”

Councillor Mike Buckley said he was “dumbfounded” that the tourist support budget had been cut.

He said that the money should be found from the £7.5 million regeneration budget to promote Saddleworth if the borough wants to attract visitors and boost prosperity.

The partnership agreed to provide £8,000 for tourism support that will go towards the likes of developing new village trails, printing visitor leaflets, supporting local events and promotion on websites.

Members of the partnership also put forward their ideas for bids to a new District Investment Fund, a borough-wide pot of £360,000 available for bids.

A subgroup was set up to research the options and make bids by the December deadline, before reporting back at the next meeting, being held at the civic hall in Uppermill on Thursday, December 1.