Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council began preliminary discussions at a meeting last Tuesday (December 7) on whether to decrease the grants’ budget to pre-pandemic levels.

During the covid crisis the council increased the grant budget allowance but, as the pandemic settles, the council is now suggesting a review on the matter.

Chairman Brian Wood said: ’This coming year we are considering in the light of other things we want to spend money, on returning the grant budget levels to that of two years ago. We are looking at new spend to principally enhance our open spaces areas which have been very well used during the pandemic, so have checked all levels of spend to increase the efficiency of expenditure.’

Since 2020, community groups have been able to apply for a maximum grant of £1,000, double the amount they were able to receive before covid. Figures show that overall grant budget money has increased by over 100% in the last two years from £5,500 in 2019/2020 to £12,000 in 2021/2022.

The move came as community groups struggled to keep services going because of numerous covid restrictions and councillors agreed to approve larger grants to help these groups remain open.

The council will make a firm decision on whether or not to reduce the grant fund at its January meeting when the budget is set for the coming financial year. Until then the suggestion remains only a possibility. It is also possible that the council may decide to set the budget limit to somewhere between the pre-pandemic and pandemic levels.

At last Tuesday’s meeting the council decided to offer a grant to Everything Okehampton to go towards the cost of the Christmas lights. In the past it has granted money to a range of organisations including the Okehampton Air Cadets, the maintenance of the Meldon Viaduct and the Tor Support Services.