A PASSIONATE debate about which voluntary organisations should receive grants from Stroud District Council was sparked when a Conservative member questioned the rainbow administration’s decision to award more money to ‘arty farty’ groups than to a homeless charity.

Councillor Liz Peters (Con, Chalford) said she was surprised that SDC gave "so much to the arts organisations and not enough to say Marah," which works with the homeless and recovering addicts, as well as ex-offenders and those living with mental health problems.

Highlighting the fact that the district council is providing £12,000 to Stroud Valleys Arts Space, compared with a grant of £2,000 to Marah, Cllr Peters said: "Homeless people, people who are suffering from drug addictions or alcohol addictions, I would have thought that they were in more need than people who are arty farty."

Despite promising a future review of the sums awarded to each organisation at a special meeting of the executive on Thursday, January 3, members of the rainbow administration lined up to mount a staunch defence of their funding for the arts.

Cllr Tom Williams (Lab, Stonehouse) said it was not the job of the district council to ‘plug the gaps’ left by central government and there needed to be ‘room for a bit of uplifting stuff in society’.

His party colleague, Roger Sanders (Uplands) said arts organisations provided employment as well as entertainment and helped to establish a unique culture in the district.

Cllr Dennis Andrewartha (Lib Dem, Cam West) said he resented the term ‘arty farty’ and urged members to see the bigger picture, pointing out the link between art and tourism.

Green Party Cllr Simon Pickering (Slade) also sought to flag up the economic benefits of supporting arts groups.

"There is a multiplier effect. You have to consider that by giving these organisations a small amount of money they could bring more into the district."

Art is a ‘major part of the UK economy’ Cllr Pickering said, adding: "in times of austerity we all need a bit of cheering up."

Stroud District Council has maintained its grant funding for 2013/2014 and will award a total of £305,750 to 13 separate organisations.

Three arts groups – Kingshill House, PREMA and Stroud Valleys Artspace – are to receive £20,000, £10,000 and £12,000 respectively, with the largest grant of £120,000 going to the Stroud and District Citizens Advice Bureau, whose trained advisors offer free advice to residents on a range of issues, including debt, redundancy, benefits, housing and employment.