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Gala threatened after new charges set to be imposed
NEW council charges are putting at risk the future of an historic Leeds gala it was claimed yesterday.
Horsforth Gala dates back to the 1800s and is a highlight of the town’s events calendar each year.
But Coun Dawn Collins says organisers have been told to stump up almost £400 to pay for road closures.
Being not-for-profit, the gala, like many other community events, had previously been exempt from council fees for closing roads.
Facing tough budget cuts, however, Leeds City Council has decided that from April all organisations will have to pay a flat fee of £384 to cover costs.
Coun Collins (Con, Horsforth) is now calling for a rethink in council policy after warning the gala – which struggles to break even – was now in jeopardy.
She said: “Horsforth Gala has been a firm fixture in the calendar for the local community.”
A Leeds City Council spokeswoman said it had agreed to waive fees for organisations celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee but budget pressures meant others must pay.
She added: “As part of a number of budget pressures which now face the council due to government cuts, we can reluctantly no longer financially support these type of local events.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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