A senior councillor has claimed civic minded volunteers are being asked to ‘pay for the privilege’ of giving up their time to improve parks and public places.
Tottington Independent councillor Yvonne Wright, who has been a member of Bury council for 25 years, said that the council expects volunteers from green groups, which includes litter pickers and civic pride groups, to pay their own insurance.
Coun Wright, who herself has been a volunteer with several charities and civic groups for decades, said one of them, Tottington Civic Pride, had been informed by a council officer that they were asking people to pay their own public liability insurance.
A Bury council cabinet member said ‘we are working on a solution to this’.
Coun Wright said her initial response to the request for payment of insurance was ‘you must be joking’.
“We’ve never, ever been asked to pay public liability insurance because volunteers are giving their time for free,” she said.
“We’re a small group of pensioners who go out every week for hours to make a difference to the town. “We also have volunteer litter pickers as we do all over the borough.
“I though it appalling and so did the other members and residents, they told me it was diabolical.
“Do Bury Hospice charge volunteers? Does Bury Blind Society charge volunteers for pubic liability insurance? Do they heck.”
Coun Wright brought up the matter at a Bury full council meeting. She said: “Bury council now expects volunteers from green groups which includes litter pickers and civic pride groups to pay their own insurance.
“These volunteers work throughout our borough for free, many providing their own tools. “Bury council, unlike any organisation or charity I know of, now wants them to pay for the privilege.
“Would this council now demonstrate that you do value volunteers and please u-turn this terrible decision before you lose the goodwill of both volunteers and Bury residents alike?”
Responding, cabinet member Alan Quinn, said: “As I understand if a council employee is with the group then they are insured but if they’re working on their own they aren’t.
“I need to know the reason why and I’ve been in contact with one of the officers to find out. I think we are working on a solution to this.
“We do value the groups. For instance the Friends of Springwater Park go balsam bashing and even test the water quality
and get on me if they think United Utilities are polluting the River Irwell.
“We have volunteers all over and without them Burrs Country Park, Philips Park and others would be a mess.
“There will be a reason for this. I will find out and get back to you.”
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