Ilkley puts money aside for Christmas lights (From Ilkley Gazette)

Ilkley puts money aside for Christmas lights

11:30am Friday 16th July 2010

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Thousands of pounds extra have been set aside for Christmas lights by Ilkley councillors as a back-up plan in case of Bradford Council cutbacks.

Ilkley Parish Council has agreed to underwrite the cost of additional illuminations for the town centre – on top of the £10,000 already budgeted for Christmas lights – as a back-up measure in the event that the local authority does not provide £5,000 of funding.

The parish council has set aside £2,250 from its reserves pot to underwrite the cost of the lights, although councillors are confident that extra money will come from Bradford Council.

It was revealed this week that Bradford Council may cut its budget by up to £150 million over the next four years, a consequence of sweeping nationwide cuts under the coalition Government.

Ilkley Parish Council had set itself a budget of £10,000 for this year’s lights, and is anticipating around £5,000 being given to the town by Bradford Council to help fund the annual illuminations.

But parish council chairman and Christmas lights project manager, Councillor Brian Mann, said the expected money from Bradford could not be guaranteed.

He proposed underwriting the cost of new lights for the main town centre Christmas tree, and new lights for the bottom of Brook Street, using money from Ilkley’s reserves.

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