SOME third sector groups in Argyll and Bute may feel that their future is threatened by any removal of council grants, an official has admitted.

A report revealed that the removal of third sector grants, including those to parent and toddler groups, are a potential savings option as the council sets its budget.

Helensburgh Central Labour Councillor Fiona Howard questioned what the result of the acceptance of the savings option could be at a special meeting of councillors.

And Douglas Hendry, Argyll and Bute Council’s executive director, conceded that the removal of grants could be viewed as a threat by some organisations.

The special meeting of the authority’s policy and resources committee took place on Thursday, January 19.

A report in advance of the meeting said of the savings option: “This will remove grant funding used to support running costs for a number of third sector groups across all localities.

“None of these groups deliver statutory services for education but do support children, young people and families.”

It added that there was a risk that: “The non-statutory groups and organisations may not be in a position to continue or may have to reduce services.”

At the meeting Councillor Howard asked: “In relation to third sector grant removal for parent and toddler groups, has there been any work done on the knock-on effect of that?

“The closure of any of these groups could have an effect on other services. Does anybody know the result of taking away that grant?”

Mr Hendry responded: “Similar questions have been asked as part of the process. Whether we are able to say is not possible to define with total accuracy.

“But what we can say is cuts would range from under £1,000, which are unlikely to cause a threat to the continuation of operation, to just over £20,000.

“We do not require these organisations to specify what the funding applies to, so we cannot say exactly what it means.

“There is a possibility that some of these organisations will feel that the savings option renders a threat to their continued operation.

“But in overall terms, it has been put forward on the basis that it is not statutory. It is something the council has done.

“Officers recognise that while that is the case, this is one that could be particularly sensitive. It is over to members on that basis to decide whether to accept the saving.”

The council will set its budget on Thursday, February 23. The policy and resources committee is due to meet again a week earlier.