FRANKSTON councillors have slammed a request by the Carrum Downs Scouts to secure $250,000 to move into a new home.
The scouts were seeking the money to move into a new location at a Carrum Downs warehouse, but were promptly shut down at the 1 October council meeting.
The scouts’ former home was demolished as part of a redevelopment at Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve.
Cr Steve Toms said it was “outrageous” to request this amount of money.
“There are many scout groups in the city, and quite frankly I find it astounding that one group should ask for such an enormous amount of money,” Cr Toms said.
“Scouting is a state government responsibility, scout groups have leasing arrangements with council but that is where it should stop. I am a great believer in the scouts movement, but ratepayers should not be footing the bill of $250,000.”
The motion put to council was that they note the request for $250,000 and monitor “the current lease agreement and the Carrum Downs Recreation reserve and provide an extension to enable relocation within a reasonable timeframe.” The motion was carried unanimously.
Cr Glenn Aitken said “it’s an unfortunate situation because a scout group is a great organisation, but it puts us today in a difficult situation where we’re being asked for a quarter of a million dollars. The sad part of that is that it is not going to get through. While the intent of the organisation is good, it appears to me to be a less than happy outcome.”
The request was asking council to match the $250,000 in funding provided to the group by the state Labor Government in September.
