News / Clothing grants to stay
A PROPOSAL to cut a clothing grant to pre-school pupils of £40 per child has been thrown out by councillors on Wednesday.
Shetland Islands Council could have saved £1,200 per annum if the proposal had gone through.
The non-statutory help to parents on low incomes became earmarked for the axe as part of a root and branch spending review to bring council budgets under control.
However, led by education committee vice chairman George Smith, councillors agreed that such a move would send out the wrong signal.
Smith described the proposal as “penny-pinching” that doesn’t appreciate the value of the service to those families with financial needs.
Tom MacIntyre added: “There are people at the edge here, and this will make a difference. We will be seen as further disadvantaging people.”
Councillors were at pains to explain that rejecting the proposal should not be seen as criticising officials who were just doing “what we asked them to do”.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
