Functions of the town

Organisers of the East Kilbride half marathon are back at the starting block as they search for an event sponsor.
 
Last week it was believed that South Lanarkshire Leisure, South Lanark-shire Council and NHS Lanarkshire had stepped in at the last minute to save the under-threat road race.
 

Now South Lanarkshire Council and South Lanarkshire Leisure – which is funded by the council – have said they are unable to run with the annual £42,000 bill for the former Coca-Cola half marathon.
 
The council, which is facing £107million of cuts over the next four years, has imposed a strict financial vetting procedure, which officials insist the half marathon funding did not go through.
 
Last week’s ‘commitment’ was  attributed to a burst of zeal from race enthusiasts. Now time is running out for the popular road race and fun run.
 
Councillor Gerry Convery, who is chairman of South Lanarkshire Leisure Trust, was attending a meeting of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) in St Andrews when the news broke last week.
 
He said: “Information was given out prematurely last week, before the decision went through the necessary vetting procedures.
 

“Nothing had been agreed. We have to make savings to continue providing frontline services for the people of South Lanarkshire. It was a total misunderstanding.”
 
A spokesman for South Lanarkshire Council said: “More than ever we have to look at how every penny is spent. Even Coca-Cola, with a global turnover of around $30,990,000,000 (over 30,000 times that of the council) is doing the same.
 
“It is only right to make it clear that in the current economic recession, there is no public money available to fill the gap left by one of the world’s biggest companies.
 
“We are more than happy to look at continuing the in-kind contribution we made to the race over the past ten years, but only if a commercial sponsor comes forward to fund the event.”
 
As of yet, no commercial sponsor has come forward to foot the substantial £42,000 bill previously funded by Coca-Cola.
 
A spokesman for NHS Lanarkshire said: “We were involved in discussions with South Lanarkshire Council and South Lanarkshire Leisure about the East Kilbride half marathon.
 
“It was hoped an arrangement could have been found to allow this year’s race to go ahead.
“Unfortunately, this has not been possible. ”
 
Acknowledging the willingness of NHS Lanarkshire to work with the council and the leisure trust on a number of health related promotions, the council spokesman added: 

“Discussions are on-going with NHS Lanarkshire on a number of projects promoting healthy lifestyles in young people that might be used in the build-up to the 2011 Lanarkshire Inter-national Children’s Games.”