By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter

An attempt to reinstate a grant for a toy library was voted down by Labour councillors.

 

 

 

 Liberal Democrat member Thomas Gravatt tabled a motion for Southampton City Council to restore the £27,000 annual funding to Community Playlink.

The charity, which is based at Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre, has provided the free toy library service to thousands of children for more than 50 years.

 Community Playlink's toy library is based at Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre

However, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a city council decision saw it cut the grant, casting doubt over the provision’s future.

Swaythling representative Cllr Gravatt (Lib Dem) said: “For £27,000 a year Community Playlink was providing an invaluable service to local families.

“The funding involved here was quite modest but the impact was huge and the service was providing support to families, schools, community groups and this council through the family hubs.”

Conservative councillor Alex Houghton (Peartree) said: “Once it’s gone, it will be gone forever.”

Amanda Barnes-Andrews, Labour councillor responsible for children and learning, said the council’s family hubs provided similar important services.

She said an experienced bid writer had been identified to support Community Playlink with grant applications.

Cllr Barnes-Andrews said: “We received a better-than-expected financial settlement from the government.

“Despite this we need to be cautious and prudent.

“Nobody here would agree that replicating services for the same families is a good use of public money.”

The motion was backed by Liberal Democrat, Green and Conservative councillors at full council on March 25, but it fell after Labour’s majority group voted against.