At its policy and service meeting last month, the Stratford District Council approved grants to seven community groups, amounting to $7500.
If this decision is ratified at the full council meeting on October 9, the Order of St John will receive $600, Stratford Business Association $750 for the Romeo Awards, Taranaki Garden Trust $500 (which it said will be spent on printing additional Fringe Festival brochures), Taranaki Pioneer Village $2250 to record a documentary(s) on our local heritage, $500 toward a new portable camp kitchen for the Stratford Scout Group, $2150 for the Central and South Taranaki Youth Development's administration costs and $750 for a new television and DVD player for the Stratford Amateur Swimming Club, for its educational programmes.
Eleven applications for the community funding were received.
An application for $480 by Riding for the Disabled generated some debate, with the application turned down on the grounds of it being for retrospective funding. Funding criteria does not allow for retrospective costs, and though the bill at the time of application was not yet paid, the event has already been held, chief executive Sue Davids explained.