A CALL-IN for Derby City Council's cabinet to reconsider its decision on community budgets failed at a scrutiny commission meeting last night.
It was decided last month that the money neighbourhood boards receive would be "based on need" rather than all 17 wards receiving the same amount.
In the 2012-13 budget, all wards received £36,000 but the council's Labour leadership agreed to change the sums based on need.
And last night, at a call-in from Conservative councillors Frank Harwood, Robin Wood and leader, Philip Hickson, the decision was upheld.
The Liberal Democrats were also in favour of the call-in and wanted the decision to be sent back to the cabinet.
Mr Harwood represents Oakwood, which is losing £20,404 of its budget.
He said: "I don't think anyone here would argue that there are not areas of the city that need more help than others because they are more deprived. But the way in which the changes are being brought about is uncaring.
"Projects that have been ongoing and planned for the future in Oakwood – like putting lighting in around the park – will have to be cancelled because we will not have the funds to carry out such schemes."
Neighbourhood boards are made up of community leaders, councillors and local service providers, like Derby Homes and police, and spend their budgets on projects to benefit the communities.
The council says the level of need is decided based on household income, crime, anti-social behaviour, housing standards and child poverty.
At the meeting, Ranjit Banwait, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and Streetpride, said the way that the figures were arrived at was the same formula central Government used to implement the cuts nationwide.
He said: "The cuts made to many of the boards across the city is justified.
"There are many areas like Normanton and Arboretum which have been devastated by the Government cuts and they are in need of extra funding from the council to help.
"More money needs to be given to those areas to redress the balance."
But Mr Hickson, the leader of the Conservative group, said that without the community funding in Allestree, the youth service would come to an end.
He said: "Extra funding for the poorest areas of the city will not do anything.
"The neighbourhood boards are working incredibly well in the areas that are receiving the harshest cuts.
"People volunteer and give up their time to work with the neighbourhood boards and with the cuts, they're likely to think "what's the point"."
