PROPOSALS to scrap councillor’s community allowances in Newport would have a detrimental effect on vulnerable groups who rely on it, councillors argued.

Speaking at last week’s full council meeting, Lliswerry councillor Allan Morris said the £1,500 given to members to use in the community was vital for some voluntary groups who could not survive without it.

He said: “Every one of us has some little group within our wards desperate for cash, desperate for help, and they will have nowhere to run. It’s is a vital amount of money, it’s a small amount, but that will be missed most more than every other cut you are talking about.”

Caerleon councillor Gail Giles agreed and said she uses the money to help support organisations such as Caerleon in Bloom and events like the Caerleon Arts Festival.

She said: “Community allowances are very important, they provide that little bit of money for the organisations who would not otherwise have it.

“There are wards that require so much more assistance and what we do helps. It helps improve the lives of people directly.”

Conservative councillor Andrew Cooksey, for Rogerstone, said to take away community allowances would be a bridge too far for many people, including him.

He said: “To take away £1,500 per member for vulnerable groups in the community – it’s not on, not on, not on.”

Proposals to cut councillors allowances is one of many savings being considered as part of plans to bridge a £9 million funding gap in the authority's 2011/12 budget.

Councillor Peter Davies, cabinet member for resources, said all proposals were still being consulted on and no decision had yet been made.