COUNCIL chiefs are planning to grant cash to bowling clubs and community groups to help the stay afloat through the coronavirus crisis.

The disease outbreak has led to a severe lack of income for clubs which usually receive cash annually through the council’s Grants to Voluntary Organisations (GTVO) funding.

Municipal Buildings bosses have now revealed they are planning to give groups who received financial support last year the same amount of cash for 2020/21, if no other funding is available to them.

However, clubs would be expected to explore all other potential sources of funding before relying on the local authority.

The proposal was detailed in documents presented to the policy and resources executive sub-committee.

The report said: “A number of bowling clubs have contacted the council expressing concerns about the sustainability of their club during Covid-19 due to the lack of income from annual membership fees and fixed overheads to keep the greens maintained.

“Where clubs have a bar facility, there is further loss of income due to the current lockdown.

“Clubs will be expected to apply for funding including the Business Grants scheme, however not all will be eligible.

"Where funding cannot be accessed by another source, then it is recommended the same level of GTVO support is given to the club as they received it last year.

“There are [also] a number of organisations previously in receipt of funding from GTVO.

"If agreed, the intention would be to treat these organisations the same way as bowling clubs.”

There are eight Greenock bowling clubs included in the proposals – Ardgowan, Fort Matilda, Grosvenor, Hillend, Lady Alice, Rankin Park, Victoria and Wellington Park.

Two clubs in Gourock, two in Port Glasgow and one in Inverkip will also be able to approach the council for cash if they do not manage to secure any by other means.

Other organisations which received funding last year are Auchmountain Glen in Greenock, Weymss Bay Community Association, Greenock & District Sea Cadets and Greenock & District Scout Council.

The plan would be to offer grants to these organisations early next month, ahead of the usual process.

There are additionally plans to give Inverclyde’s seven self-managed community centres – which receive financial support from the community based services funding stream – a quarterly payment covering the period from April to June.

Some of these centres would usually receive cash monthly.

The Greenock hubs which usually receive council funding are Craigend Resource Centre, Branchton Community Centre, Youth Connections, Broomhill Hub, Gibshill Community Centre, Kilmacolm Community Centre and Inverkip Hub.

Documents prepared by officials say: “This [financial] review would include the expectation the centres will apply to all other available funding sources.

“All organisations have been forwarded information on various sources of funding they may be eligible for.”