£10,000 alert for centres

Published 17 Mar 2012 12:30

ALMOST £10,000 raised by communities in Dumbarton and the Vale could go to waste unless community groups step up and take responsibility for it.

A bank account holding nearly £60,000 of unclaimed funds is set to close, and the cash - which belongs to groups using Community and Education (CE) centres throughout West Dunbartonshire - could fall into council hands if suitable groups don't step forward to take control.

All community groups need to do to obtain the funds is form a Management Advisory Committee (MAC), draft a constitution and open a bank account.

But with no MACs attached to the Alexandria, Bonhill or Phoenix Community Centres - more than £10,000 could be lost.

ACTIVITIES

Councillor Martin Rooney is worried communities could suffer if the cash is lost, and he has called on suitable parties to step up and stake their claim.

He told the Reporter: "There must be community groups and centre users who would be interested in setting up an MAC to get hold of the funds and use them to buy equipment for the centres, or spend the money on community activities, or even just agree to transfer it to another organisation like Clydebank East MAC.

"Around two years ago, Councillor John Millar discovered that the Dalmonach Community MAC had a dormant bank account that was estimated to have around £12,000 in it belonging to the Dalmonach community groups.

"The Dalmonach MAC made it clear to the council officers that they wanted the centre funds to be transferred to the centre.

"Other community centres also have dormant bank accounts and are entitled to claim the funds."

Last month we told how Dalmonach CE Centre's MAC had won their battle to access the £11,000 they had raised over the years.

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 13 Mar 12

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