Two major groups in South Otago have been given the chance to prove their worth for an increase in funding from the Clutha District Council.
The council met yesterday in Balclutha to discuss its response to the annual plan submissions.
The South Otago Historical Society sought an additional $10,000 to the $32,800 already allocated to the South Otago Museum curator's annual income.
The council agreed to the revised budget on condition the society undertook an independent review of its governance and finance. Cr Hamish Anderson said that would give the council the chance to look at the structure of the museum's governance, which he questioned.
‘‘[It] gives us some clarity on what they are doing.''
Although those involved with the organisation of the museum were passionate, the request was not backed up by much data.
Cr Gaynor Finch was concerned those who made submissions to the council on the museum's financial support were under the impression the council was pulling all funding for the museums in the area.‘‘We were not pulling the support whatsoever,'' she said.
The independent review would be funded by the council and the additional funding would not be released until the review was completed this year.
The council also approved a $10,000 increase to the funding of the Cross Recreation Centre.
Cr John Cochrane said the centre had become a victim of its own success.
He wanted to stress that not funding the centre would probably result in the council having to pay more in the long term.
He believed that without adequate funding, the condition of the building could deteriorate and those volunteering and working there would be under strain. Cr Anderson said the group had gone above and beyond what was required of it. ‘‘The recreation centre has been a phenomenal success and we should champion success.''
He was impressed with the way the group came forward every year and provided fully detailed accounts.‘‘I don't know of any other group that does that.''
He hoped those involved with its organisation would come back and demonstrate the effort they had gone to to increase revenue with the additional support from the council.
The council was unanimous in its decision to increase funding for the centre to $43,300.
