A PROMISE was extracted from West Devon councillors this week to try to help the area's sports clubs which face crippling rates bills because of reductions in discretionary rate relief.
Mr Burnett said he had organised the meeting because: 'I cannot stand by and let that huge fund of goodwill go to waste.'
Many representatives warned they might have to fold because of the reduction in relief on the business-rated clubs.
Simon Essex from Okehampton told West Devon councillors and officers that he did not understand the borough council's promise to back sport in its latest 'glossy' pamphlet enclosed with the latest rates bills.
'Your track record says you back sport and this is where we are confused,' he said.
And Ted Cann, representing Okehampton Rugby Club, said: 'We are not looking for special favours, we are looking for fairness.'
He said his club found itself in 'an impossible situation' after receiving this year's rates bill amounting to £6,968 with only 30 per cent discretionary relief.
Bernard Rendle, of Okehampton Rifle Club, warned his club would no longer exist in two or three years' time.
His wife, Yvonne, said: 'If all these clubs close, then it will cost West Devon much more to provide sport in the future — they just don't realise how much voluntary work is put into clubs.'
John Perkin, chairman of Tavistock Cricket Club, said the borough was out of step with other neighbouring councils.
'North Devon give 100 per cent relief and Launceston clubs get 80 per cent,' he said.
'We operate just five months of the year and we have no services whatsoever. We even have to take away our own rubbish for collection.'
Mr Burnett said he was well aware of the 'tremendous financial constraints West Devon Borough Council has had to suffer under'.
He suggested West Devon put in £25,000 a year from reserves over the next four years to support clubs and said the sum would be matched threefold by central government.
'Look at the benefit that would throw up for young people in the community,' he said.
'An investment of £100,000 would yield £300,000 — it would take 60 years to reach that figure if invested even at the highest rate of interest.'
After the meeting, chairman Cllr Peter Hill said a working group had been formed to look into helping the clubs.
'We have taken on board what the sports clubs had to say and the working group will look at current procedures, including our grant system. In the light of the evidence supplied to us on Monday night we will see if there is an opportunity to help them. We want a good healthy community and sport is part of that.'
l A written request from West Devon's sports clubs went out on Tuesday asking borough chief executive David Incoll and West Devon mayor Margaret Garton, if it was possible for all councillors to be invited to review the plight of sports clubs on a free vote.
Earlier in the month, the majority of members of West Devon's policy and resources committee voted for reform of the discretionary rate relief rules and procedures in favour of sports clubs.
Simon Essex, representing the clubs, said: 'There are over 3,000 members of sports clubs in West Devon who are severely disadvantaged by the dramatic increase in taxes.
'These members, with families and supporters, represent an extremely high percentage of West Devon constituents.'
Only one quarter of the cost of rate relief would be paid by West Devon. If councillors voted for sports clubs, the clubs would undertake to work with West Devon and West Devon business to fund the shortfall.
'West Devon sports clubs ask for no special favours, only to be treated in the same way as sports clubs are treated in the rest of Devon,' he said.