Axminster Town Council refuses funding for Flamingo Pool and coronation amid cost of living crisis

Axminster Town Council has decided against offering funding to the town's Flamingo Pool or for coronation celebrations, amid the cost of living crisis. 

The council this week rejected a £5,000 grant application for the Flamingo Pool and said it would not be setting a budget or organising events for the coronation of King Charles III in May, as it takes steps to be more frugal with its spending due to increasing financial pressures.

At Monday night's meeting, councillors considered a grant application from the Flamingo Pool, which has launched a £250,000 fundraising appeal for the installation of renewable and sustainable energy sources and improvements so that the pool can be run efficiently, economically and with less pollution to the environment.

A 'crisis meeting' in September heard that the pool would be under threat of closure within three years if it could not cut down its running costs. 

On top of this, serious structural damage to the main pool was discovered over Christmas. The main pool has remained closed while repairs are carried out at a cost of almost £17,000, with revenues having plummeted by 65% and a loss of £33,000 suffered in January.

Councillors were told that they only had £3,500 remaining in this year's grants budget. 

The Mayor of Axminster, Cllr Jill Farrow, reminded members that in setting the budget for the coming financial year, councillors had agreed to only spend money on essential projects due to the cost of living crisis. 

She said that giving the Flamingo Pool £5,000 when it had just lost £33,000 and required so much more for future investment was "just a drop in the ocean" and she did not believe it was the correct use of taxpayers' money.

"It's very hard because with our hearts we want to support it but with our pockets we can't," she said. 

Councillors agreed to reject the grant application for the Flamingo Pool. 

In a similar discussion regarding the King's upcoming coronation, the council agreed not to set a budget for celebrations or organise any events itself, instead leaving it to other community groups to take the lead. 

When asked by town crier Nick Goodwin if the council would be funding coronation celebrations, the mayor said many would consider it "a rank waste of money".

She later said: "I think this is an extremely difficult issue because of the financial constraints we are under and I would prefer to leave it to community groups themselves. We don't have the money and it seems inappropriate to celebrate when people are in dire straits, choosing between food and heat."

Cllr Farrow said she understood that the Rotary Club had stepped forward to lead celebrations and it was agreed that small donations may be made available via the grants application process for local groups holding coronation events, but the council would not be setting a specific budget for this.

The mayor also encouraged councillors to support events and said she would be attending a coronation church service herself. 

Lyme Regis Town Council – one of Axminster's closest neighbours but a much wealthier local authority – has set a budget of £20,000 for the coronation weekend having spent a similar amount for the Queen's platinum jubilee in 2022, as well as a £30,000 budget for a memorial to the late Queen.

Support for young people's mental health

A £6,000 grant application to support the mental health of young people in Axminster did win some support from councillors on Monday night – although it did not receive the full amount.

Councillors agreed to grant Action East Devon £1,500 towards its outreach work supporting students at Axe Valley Academy. 

Again, the mayor reminded councillors of increasing financial pressures on the council, saying she understood that cuts had been made across the board but it was not the responsibility of Axminster Town Council to "pick up everything". 

Cllr Steve Holt also scrutinised Action East Devon's finances, saying the council would be "shoring up its deficiencies" if its was to approve a grant.

However, passionate appeals made by Cllr Kara Burrough and former Axe Valley Academy teacher, Cllr Bernie Steadman, who emphasised the importance of mental health support for young people, resulted in councillors agreeing to a £1,500 grant.

Cllr Jeremy Waldon initially proposed the £1,500 grant, saying the increasing mental health problems suffered by young people needed to be recognised and the grant was "for the good of the community", but he was advised against making the proposal as he is a governor of Axe Valley Academy.

Cllr Steadman made the proposal instead, with Cllr Waldon abstaining from voting.

More details about Action East Devon's services can be found at www.actioneastdevon.org.uk