Scarborough Fair to seek funding for town’s Christmas lights
The Scarborough Fair is set to apply for funding for the town’s Christmas lights from the mayor of York and North Yorkshire.
Money for Scarborough’s Christmas lights could come from elected mayor David Skaith’s High Streets Fund which aims to support the creation of resilient high streets across the York and North Yorkshire region.
Scarborough Town Council (STC) was set to approve the membership of a Christmas lights working group at a meeting on Wednesday (January 28), but following a “tumultuous week”, councillors were told a bid will be submitted to the combined authority in a matter of days.
The Scarborough Fair is set to apply for the money in conjunction with the town’s chamber of commerce, and councillors agreed that the working group could be mothballed until further details emerge about the bid.
“They are writing a bid to the combined authority and it has to be submitted by Friday,” the town clerk told members.
“We’re not going to match fund it; they are going to match fund it.
“We are then going to negotiate a partnership agreement as to what we will contribute towards sustainability going forward, which means electricity, maintenance, health and safety.”
North Yorkshire Council will no longer pay for the festive decorations in Scarborough following the creation of the town council.
Whitby Town Council and Filey Town Council pay for their own illuminations from precepts and other income.
Scarborough Town Council set aside £70,000 towards the provision of Christmas lights in a budget that was passed last week.
Speaking at a meeting of the town council’s community and place committee on Wednesday, Cllr Chris Clark said: “Can I just point out at this stage that should there be an opportunity to reduce substantially that £70,000 for those Christmas lights, that we earnestly consider returning some of that cash to the community grants fund.”
Cllr Sarah Mason noted that the town council would still be responsible for other costs related to the maintenance of the lights and should wait to establish those before allocating the money elsewhere.
The Scarborough Fair is a year-round programme of distinctive arts, heritage and sporting events at venues across the town.
The third phase of the High Streets Fund aims to champion “collaborative working to create meaningful change which is representative of all voices on the High Street and supports long-term sustainability”.
For projects that cost between £50,001 and £100,000, the programme can fund up to 90 per cent of total project costs and if over £100,000, the scheme can fund up to 80 per cent of total project costs.