You may be aware that Scottish Borders Council recently voted by 18 votes to 15 votes to use Covid recovery funding as a "King's Coronation Fund" instead of handing that money to the food banks in the Scottish Borders (there was a two-way vote).

There is now a £35,000 pot of money for community groups to apply for to fund parties marking the coronation this May. Up to £500 per party can be applied for.

We have nothing against the King or the monarchy, but we find this to be an ill-advised misuse of local money in the current climate, when food bank use is exploding. If people wish to celebrate the coronation, they should spend their own money on cakes, bunting, and venue hire, not public money. 

We urge the community councils of the Borders not to apply for funding from the King's Coronation Fund, and indeed to write to SBC expressing a position that the £35,000 should instead be given to food banks and other charities across the region. The council will no doubt claim the decision cannot be undone due to their standing orders, but that is their collective choice and our communities should have no part in encouraging this bad decision.

We realise not everyone will agree with us, but we feel a moral imperative to raise our concerns in the forum of the community councils.