£5,000 lifeline for West Auckland youth group

PARISH councillors in a dale village have opted to donate £5,000 to help save their youth club instead of putting the precept up.
West Auckland Parish Council was asked if it would be able to support the facility at Millbank which is popular with more than 100 youngsters.
The call for help came after Durham County Council withdrew the youth work support grant.
At an earlier meeting, county councillor Rob Yorke explained: “The funding has been withdrawn because of funding deficits.
“That particular youth club is in a worse situation than most because it has a deficit of about £24,000 a year.
“They do a cracking job down there. It is a fantastic service that they provide but it does run at a loss. It is a lovely building but it is an overhead as well. We know what the running costs are. It is just a case of finding funding to cover it.”
At the parish council’s December meeting, one of the suggestions made to help the youth club was to increase the village precept. Having previously attended a meeting with Cllr Martin Roberts about the funding situation, Cllr Lynn Rielly said: “We feel strongly enough to keep the kids off the streets even if it has to drop down to a night or two.”
Cllr Roberts said: “I think it is vital to the village.”
But Cllr Billy Robinson said: “I am totally against putting the precept up to fund the youth club. If it folds and we have put the precept up, then what?”
Cllr Valerie Raine agreed.
She said: “I don’t think people can afford a lot more.”
Cllr George Smith added: “Anything to do with longevity we can’t do it. I am totally with Billy there but it does not mean we are going to give up. We are out there looking for funding.”
Following the mixed reaction from councillors, it was decided the parish council would donate £5,000 to the club.
This will help the club to seek further funding to provide long-term sustainability.
A majority vote was also cast by councillors at December’s meeting against putting up the precept.