Gazette News
Sports organisations to have their grants cut
2:10pm Saturday 11th February 2012
SPORTS organisations in Basingstoke and Deane are expected to be hit with an average five per cent cut in funding from the borough council for the next financial year.
Council bosses are expected to agree a £137,350 package which will be split between six organisations, including Basingstoke Rugby Football Club and Overton Recreation Centre.
Councillor Clive Sanders, Cabinet member for communities, sport and leisure, praised sports organisations for finding ways of operating for less.
He told The Gazette: “This money will allow the sporting organisations that are doing extremely well to carry on doing so. It is a very important sporting year and we hope there will be a lasting legacy from the Olympics as well.”
All departmental budgets at the council are being told to find savings of five per cent, and Cllr Sanders said the reduction in sports funding is in line with this policy.
Basingstoke Bluefins Swimming Club will take the biggest cut, with its £8,000 grant being slashed by 20 per cent to £6,400. However, Basingstoke Gymnastics Club will see no reduction in its £34,000 funding.
Hampshire County Council, meanwhile, has already agreed the latest round of funding it will provide to nine sporting groups. This all but empties the council’s £150,000 budget for supporting sports organisations.
Cllr Keith Chapman, executive member for culture and recreation opted to split the remaining £30,000 between county-wide clubs including Hampshire Lawn Tennis Association, which shall receive £3,000, and Hampshire Amateur Swimming Association, which will get £5,000.
The biggest recipient of county council funding, however, is Canoe England Southern Region, which will receive £7,500. Its chairman Kevin Dennis said: “At such an exciting time, we very much hope this may be the start for an Olympic champion of the future, or an opportunity for people to explore the best of Hampshire from the water.”
Cllr Chapman added: “Hampshire has a strong sporting heritage, with many exceptional sportsmen and women living in the county.
“It is a great honour to hold the Olympics in this country and, during this exciting year, we are proud to encourage local athletes.”