COWDENBEATH Area Committee will continue to back community gala days but the level of funding will depend on population sizes.

The Local Community Planning Budget is a source of the backing for galas, civic weeks, Christmas Lights switch-on events, Christmas trees, Horticultural Shows and other local events throughout the year.

Area Services Manager, Kevin Sayer, reported to last week's meeting that this budget does, however, also cover ward budgets, discretionary rates rates relief money, which was previously central disbursed via Small Community Grants; and Floral Enhancement schemes and there was a risk that there will be insufficient resources available at a local level to sustain the delivery of successful projects in future years.

He added: "It is proposed to set a fixed limit in the Cowdenbeath Area for the types of recurring grants and these would be in three categories of small grants; medium grants; and large grants.

"Small grants would relate to communities under 5,000 people such as Lumphinannans, Hill of Beath and Crossgates; 'medium' would be between 5,000 and 10,000 such as Cardenden, Lochgelly, Kelty and Benarty; and the 'large' grant more than 10,000, such as Cowdenbeath.

"The recommendation would be a maximum of £1,000 for the small grant, medium £2,000, and £3,000 for the large version.

"It is also proposed that applicants should provide a minimum amount of match funding, this should be a minimum of 25 per cent of the event's total costs."

Councillors felt that the gala events especially showed the magnificent community spirit that exists in the district and they did not want to see anything that might hurt that.

Councillor Alex Campbell said: "I hope that we are not too harsh with any measures.

"We have some great gala events which benefit from our support."

Fellow Cowdenbeath Councillor Gary Guichan said: "That is true but looking at the recommendation, doing the allocation on a population basis is fair."

Lochgelly, Benarty and Cardenden representative, Lea McLelland, agreed with Alex Campbell's assertion that it was important that the Area Committee's support remained strong for community events.

Kelty and Cowdenbeath's Alistair Bain added: "It is important that we have the ability to assist any community group that might be struggling for any reason."

His Cowdenbeath colleague, Darren Watt, felt that doing allocations on population basis was the fairest way of doing it.

Chair, Councillor Linda Erskine, commented: "Our community events are tremendous and we should ensure that we look at every application on its own merits."

The committee agreed to the population size allocation model which would ensure that all applications would be considered in a consistent manner.