COUNCILLORS have clashed over grants to youth groups after it emerged that some have received cash handouts while others have not.

Municipal Buildings officials have been at a loss to explain apparent discrepancies highlighted by Gourock elected member Ronnie Ahlfeld.

The independent councillor demanded to know why organisations receiving ‘pitch waivers’ from the council appear to be losing out on grants.

Mr Ahlfeld said: “Three clubs — Port Glasgow Boys’ Club, Gourock Youth Athletic Club and St Andrew’s Boys’ Club have had their requests refused or rejected.

“The reasons for rejection were that those clubs were receiving a significant amount of pitch waivers.” Cllr Ahlfeld told the meeting that he wrote to the grants sub-committee chair, Labour’s James McColgan, about the matter in ‘early September’ but has still not received a reply.

He pointed out that an application from Greenock’s East End United for help to pay energy bills and maintenance had been deferred — while a bid from Gourock Youth Athletic for the same purpose was rejected.

Councillor Ahlfeld said: “I am intrigued if it is now policy to measure one against the other, and if so, what are the parameters?

“For example, is there a sliding scale which specifies that when a club reaches a certain amount of waivers they no longer qualify for grant funding?

“What is the criteria? Have the clubs been advised of this policy?” Cllr Ahlfeld added: “Broomhill Boys’ Club have been allocated a conditional grant although presumably they also benefit from pitch waivers.

“Similarly, Inverclyde Athletic Club have been awarded £2,000 — so do I assume that this club does not benefit from facility waivers?” Communities director Patricia Cassidy told the councillor: “I am not able to answer this in detail at present.

“Perhaps it would be helpful if I brought a report back to a future meeting of the education and communities committee.” Cllr McColgan took issue with Cllr Ahlfeld about why he had raised the matter when members were in the middle of agreeing whether the minutes of the grants sub-committee meeting held on 2 September were accurate.

He said he received the email query from Cllr Ahlfeld and added that it had been forwarded to the council’s head of safer and inclusive communities, John Arthur.

Cllr McColgan added: “What is before us is a true and accurate minute of the meeting, and Cllr Ahlfeld has raised a policy issue. I don’t understand why he has raised that in this forum.” Councillor Ahlfeld responded: “I have raised it because I am not on that committee. My concern is over the apparent inconsistency.”