Community funding scheme faces freeze

War memorial upkeep and lunches for the elderly are among the local schemes that could have their funding scrapped in Derbyshire, amid a planned anti-waste drive from the new Reform UK administration.

The Community Leadership Scheme enables individual councillors to access funding for projects that benefit the local area.

It is understood a council officer confirmed the scheme was on hold in an email to a councillor who was seeking to access the funding.

Reform Derbyshire spokesperson Stephen Reed told the BBC that the party were committed to "reviewing everything".

He added: "We know how vital these grants are to the community and they are an important part [of] supporting vital services."

Reform UK has pledged to carry out audits of the local council budgets it will soon control after winning several councils in the local elections, in an attempt to combat wasteful spending.

The scheme currently costs Derbyshire County Council about £120,000 each year.

However, it is among the areas whose funding is facing uncertainty as the authority's new Reform leaders assess where money can be saved on the council's books.

The leader of Derbyshire Conservatives, Alex Dale, said the scheme was "a lifeline for countless grass roots projects".

"Putting this scheme under review is worrying and suggests Reform are clearly unaware of the positive impact it's had on Derbyshire communities."

The Conservatives defended their decision to halve funding for the scheme in the past as "a responsible move to reduce council costs", adding that "it was preserved due to its direct and tangible benefits to local people."

A British Legion branch in the High Peak area received £4,880 from the fund to carry out specialist essential repairs to a war memorial in Chapel-en-le-Frith's market place, which is central to annual commemoration events.

The remainder of the cost is being covered by supporters of the legion.

Jason Adshead, a local parish councillor, said paying for the costly repairs would not have been possible without the fund.

"It's a major part of our town... it's important we keep these monuments in tip top condition. It's the very least we can do.

"I would ask [Reform] to think long and hard before they make any drastic decisions."

The Friends of Dronfield group have received funding from the scheme for the past few years, which is used to host Christmas lunches for roughly 40 local elderly residents to combat loneliness during the festive period.

They cost about £900 to run, half of which has been funded by the scheme.

David Goater, who organises the events, said groups like his would struggle without the funding.

"The community is very important. I know that funds are tight, but there are a lot of people out there doing good things. We should be celebrating that."

Reform UK will take control of the council on 21 May after winning 42 seats on the authority in the local elections.

Derbyshire County Council were approached for comment.

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