A REQUEST for financial assistance from a theatre group raising money for scholarship students was last week turned down by Tavistock town councillors. Deborah Owen, director with Hourglass Productions which staged Terry Pratchett?s ?Wyrd Sisters? in the town hall last month, said the group consisted of local performers who had collaborated to put on the performance. She said it was hoped to raise money to fund accommodation for students who have received a scholarship for their university equivalent course, but who do not qualify under grants, and would otherwise not be able to attend due to lack of funds. Ms Owen asked the committee to consider offering the group a reduction in hire fees for the town hall as the event was raising money for a charitable cause. Cllr Norma Woodcock said the council did not make charitable reductions, it charged organisations the full amount and would then consider offering a grant to those organisations, if they fell within the council?s grant-offering criteria. ?This falls outside the criteria we use in making grants ? therefore, reluctantly, I would have to say we can?t agree to the request,? she said. The committee agreed the commercial production fell outside the council?s guidelines for making grants and recommended no payment be made. The decision was due to be ratified by the full council at its meeting on Tuesday.
