Communities First cash is Staff Only - Burnham

2.03.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 24th Oct 2006

Eleanor Burnham AM has written today demanding answers from Communities Deputy Minister Huw Lewis after figures revealed that less than a quarter of Communities First funding is to be spent on project work in North Wales.

Ms Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales, is demanding to know just how much of a difference the Communities First scheme has really made in Wales, starting with her own region. Funding figures have revealed that the vast majority of the millions spent in Communities First areas goes on "core" costs, those relating to staff, building costs and administration rather than community projects.

Ms Burnham said "I think it's disgraceful that the government have presented the Communities First scheme as a blanket approach answer to the diverse needs of local communities throughout Wales.

"Many of the areas within North Wales don't appear to be benefiting from the scheme, as the majority of their money is spent on staff and administration costs.

"In Denbighshire alone the government have allocated nearly £100,000 for Communities First, yet not one penny of this is to be spent on projects.

"When you consider the volume of correspondence I receive every week from people telling me they can't access funds for their swimming club or coaching group, this situation is absolutely unacceptable.

"The government promised to "lift the 100 poorest wards in Wales out of poverty", but as far as I can see, at the moment Communities First is just a self sustaining bureaucracy. I eagerly await an answer from Mr Lewis that can prove just how successful this strategy has been to communities in North Wales."

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