North West Leicestershire District Council Issues Apology for Funding ‘Misunderstanding’

North West Leicestershire District Council has informed a local community organization that an anticipated £80,000 council contribution towards the acquisition of its current headquarters will not be provided. Since 2022, the council has collaborated with Coalville CAN on an initiative that initially encompassed assistance for buying its premises in Memorial Square. A total of £350,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) was allocated for a project to convert a former adjacent toilet block into business premises, with £80,000 designated to help Coalville CAN purchase its facility. Nevertheless, the renovation work is now set to utilize the entirety of the project’s allocated budget. Ian Wilson, chief executive of Coalville CAN, stated that despite this obstacle, his organization remains willing to collaborate with all parties, asserting that the group could “build a better place by everyone working together.” He further commented, “We have a very good relationship with many officers and councillors at the council and we want to have an even better relationship.” Wilson emphasized, “That has to be founded upon mutual respect and the confidence that when a commitment’s made, it’s kept.” He added, “We’re already working with the council on a number of other projects – and we hope that continues.” Concluding, he expressed, “We just hope that we can find a way to move beyond this and to find a way to have the relationship that works.” Coalville CAN still intends to acquire the property it presently occupies in Memorial Square, indicating that it has secured a loan to finalize the purchase, an amount nearly equivalent to the funding initially pledged by the council. The council asserts that it communicated to Coalville CAN that any financial support was contingent upon cabinet approval. Nevertheless, the council also stated: “For our part, we’ve reiterated with our staff that our processes need to be made clear when having early discussions with any organisation about funding that may be available.”