PARISH councils could see their grants cut if services are not up to scratch under new proposals.

Colchester Council expects the Government to cut its £2.3million revenue grant, cash given on the basis of population, by between £115,000 to £460,000 next year.

It currently dishes out £200,000 to parish councils, but says the figure might have to be slashed in 2011/12.

Paul Smith, councillor responsible for finance, said the council could make the grants performance related.

“Certainly, if our income is cut by 20 per cent we will have to cut theirs,” he said.

“We haven’t worked out the figures yet, but if we were only left with the money to do the things we need to do, parish grants would not come into that category.”

“At the moment, parishes get a grant based on their size whether they are good, bad or indifferent.

“Performance-related grants would be a way of giving even more money to the better performing parishes, but for the ones who don’t do that well less resources.”

Mr Smith said parish grants did not come into the category of things the council was obliged to do if its funding is cut.

He added: “It might be parish councils need to reassess their priorities in the same way the borough council has had to assess its priorities.”

John Elliott, Conservative ward councillor for Tiptree, which receives about £30,000 in its annual revenue grant, said: “People living in Tiptree pay exactly the same council tax as people in Colchester where most of the facilities are based, but they don’t pay for facilities in our village.

“That money helps us pay for services in our community.”

Christopher de Courcy-Bower, Abberton and Langenhoe Parish Council’s chairman, said: “We pay into the same pot that the people in Colchester pay into, but they get the facilities and the jobs and we don’t.

“If they are going to take that away they should take on the lighting, hedge trimming and maintenance, or not charge us as much in the rural parts.”

Parish councils’ powers include the provision of some allotments, toilets and halls, and maintenance of some footpaths and bridleways.

Colchester Council’s cabinet meeting will discuss the plans tonight.