Community cash back in Dudley Council’s budget

The authority is currently trying to work out how to save an eye-watering £42m to balance the books for the 2025/26 financial year.

Small grants from community forums were withdrawn as financial pressures piled up last year but the councillor in charge has now confirmed the money is in this years’ spending plan.

Councillor James Clinton, cabinet member responsible for community forums, said: “We have always been keen to reinstate the community forum funding as we know how valued it is by residents.

“We took the difficult decision to cut this last year, but as part of our budget proposals, we are looking to reinstate this at the value of £240k per year to be split between small community bids at ward level and community events including Christmas trees, lighting and Christmas events with the exact split yet to be decided.

“All of this still has to go to scrutiny and full council before a final decision is made, but our ambition is to see grassroots funding return to our communities.”

The withdrawal of the cash in last year’s budget caused confusion when members of the public were told at community meetings that the cash had been frozen and would be reinstated.

A meeting of the council’s cabinet in February 2024 was told some councillors had been ‘enthusiastic’ in saying the cash would be available later in the year and it would remain frozen until spending controls were lifted.

The removal of the funding led to an angry reaction from volunteers who said the money was vital for community projects.

Despite the tight controls still in place at the council, the money is allocated in the council’s spending plans for the next five years.

Cllr Clinton added: “Community groups are still able to apply for other funding through our match funded project with Spacehive.”