EVENTS organised by Redditch Borough Council, like Tuesday’s Fireworks Display are to remain free to visitors – however if people want to make a contribution that money will go to the borough’s voluntary community sector.
The move comes from Councillor Mike Rouse, whose portfolio covers leisure in the wake of plans to remove rent concessions from those charities using council premises.
“We would not be introducing mandatory charges for council events but asking for voluntary contributions – we’re saying, if you go along to one of our events and you’ve had a good time feel free to give a contribution,” he said.
“Any money that people pay in on that basis will be collected and ring fenced for the voluntary sector so every penny will go to good causes.
“We we will find other ways to fund our events through licencing and such like and we think we can break even that way.”
He added he had asked representatives of the council’s Labour opposition to join him to ensure all money collected would be fairly distributed.
“If 5,000 people turn up to an event and they all put £2 in the buckets then that is money for the voluntary sector – the scope of this depends very much on how many people turn up and how generous they are.
“However this money will not be used as a substitute but additional funding, over and above what they’d expect.”
