Forres Rotary, Forres Christmas Lights Committee, Forres Heritage Trust and Forres Mechanics FC slam Moray Council over lack of funding

A town’s bonfire and fireworks display, as well as its Christmas lights, could be under threat through a lack of funding.

Following their annual application to Moray Council for common good funding, Forres Rotary, Forres Christmas Lights Committee, Forres Heritage Trust and Forres Mechanics FC were shocked to find out there was no money left to use for local projects.

Heritage Trust chairman and Mechanics committee member, George Alexander, raised the issue at the last meeting of Forres Community Council, having applied for help with maintenance at the Tolbooth and a rent rebate for Mosset Park.

He said: “Along with other groups, we applied for funding in April. The reply was concerning.”

The Forres common good consists of property assets and invested cash. Since the regionalisation of local government in 1975, management has been the responsibility of the successors to Forres Town Council.

Nowadays, the four elected representatives for the Forres Ward are responsible for the disbursement of the interest the assets yield every year.

One-third goes back into the Forres common good capital fund and two-thirds is made available for voluntary groups to apply for grants. If the local councillors cannot agree, decisions on disbursement are passed to full council.

Moray’s common good assets are worth £23million. This year, there was a total of £30,000 to disperse in Forres.

Details showing how the Forres Common Good was being spent were released in July so George asked for clarification.

He said: “In February, as part of the budget decision for 2024-25, Moray Councillors agreed that areas with common good funding could spend it on council services. Officers were given permission to start drawing it without consulting them. So far, almost £23k of the funds for disbursement is being used for the upkeep of green areas in Forres.”

Former Moray Councillor then council leader George claims it is frequently impressed upon councillors by council executives that the main legal responsibility is to produce a balanced budget before the next financial year.

He said: “This has been a serious challenge for many years and it was often suggested by executive council officers that common good funds held for Moray towns could help balance the revenue budget.

“This was something councillors always resisted. Common good funds were never intended to bail out councils. However, before the end of the ‘23-24 financial year, Moray Council unanimously agreed to allow them to be used to cover the cost of maintaining green space areas in towns which had such funds.”

A Moray Council spokesperson reiterated the current spending commitments for the Forres common good fund are displayed in the annual statement.

She said: “The organisations receiving disbursements are in Forres. Common good funds can only be used for the benefit of the community they are allocated to.”

Moray Council leader, Councillor Kathleen Robertson (Forres, Conservative) confirmed the policy covers the entire region and will remain in place after this financial year.

She said: “The decision conforms to our long-stated position that common good funds can be used in that way. It also fits with general guidance about the use of common good: that assets owned on the common good should be kept in good order; and that maintenance of such assets is the first call on the common good.

“There was no vote as it was agreed by the council with no division. ”

Cllr Scott Lawrence (Forres, SNP) added: "Although it reduced funds for community dispersal, it protects other vital community services and jobs.

“In the past, local councillors have chosen to cut services including grass cutting. Saving services and jobs will always be a priority in making these decisions."

The total disposable income for the year was £36,995. Forres Community Activities Association (FCAA) was awarded £333 for a public entertainment licence during Scottish Week. Transition Town Forres (TTF) received a rent rebate of £8700 for the common good land at Bogton they occupy. And Forres in Bloom was granted £5000 for horticulture throughout Forres and running expenses.

The rest - £22,962 - was spent on ‘grounds maintenance recharge’.

“Moray Council now has a blank cheque to cut the grass!” said George. “A precedent has now been set which gives them first dibs on the monies which have been traditionally available to voluntary groups.

“Moray Council now has the power to set the rents on common good assets and spend the proceeds on totally unrelated services.”

Forres Rotary uses common good funding for the lifting and relaying of turf for the town’s community fireworks display.

Rotarian Sheena MacGillivray said: “It usually costs almost £2000 but we claim this back. I hope the council doesn't charge us for this in November.”

The Christmas Lights committee applies to the Forres common good fund for £600 towards public liability insurance every year.

“We were disappointed when we found out why there was no money left for small groups like ourselves,” said committee member Alan Hunter.

“If this is to become a regular occurrence we may struggle. We hope that people will donate to keep us afloat.”

George finished by claiming that common good funding is being used for council services that should be paid for via the revenue budget.

“We must resist this or what’s next, sale of common good land?” he said.

“All of the available funding has gone this year so groups have to wait to re-apply. The council got their share first - will this happen every year now?

“Our elected representatives need to watch what the officers are up to as they seem to have been kept in the dark as to how the figure of £22,962 was arrived at.”