Love Oor Lang Toun: scathing criticism as Kirkcaldy group fights to save funding

Love Oor Lang Toun (LOLT) will be funded until 2027 by Kirkcaldy area committee after a meeting with its new trustees, but the organisation set up in 2020 as a community interest company to fly the flag for the town centre following the demise of BID company, Kirkcaldy4All, has got its work cut out to win back full political support.

LOLT relies entirely on the local authority for its £30,000 annual funding, and came under heavy criticism for a second time at the committee.

Councillor Rod Cavanagh (Kirkcaldy East, SNP), who tried to have its funding pulled earlier this year, said there was “very little to show” for its funding, and he added: “Various levels of support provided but nothing of great significance materialised.” And he was forensic in his criticism of the group, telling the committee his reports indicated “a chaotic state of affairs of governance in the organisation, failing to follow direction from trustees, missed appointments, and an inability to prioritise or set targets.”

He argued: “Its work could be robustly carried out by at least two other organisations we have in the town which completely align with the kind of progress we want to see. LOLT’s belated flurry of activity does not cut it.”

The SNP member continued: “If we are truly ambitious to make meaningful change, we need people to perform to a far higher standard than this. I was very uneasy with some elements of their presentation - a disingenuous exercise to piggy bank on other people’s proposals as their own. The conduct of this organisation has been less than satisfactory - that‘s the understatement of the century.”

The committee was told a service level agreement now exists with LOLT which sets out what the council expects in return for its funding.

It included the launch of Lang Toun Fest - which the group was a part of - and the success of the festive lights switch-on which brought big numbers into the High Street.

But while councillors were impressed with the new trustees, who have only been on board for a matter of weeks, they raised concerns over the group’s efforts and were concerned at the lack of tangible evidence of the benefits it has delivered to the town centre.

Councillor Alistair Cameron (Kirkcaldy Central, Labour) said LOLT’s presentation to the workshop with councillors was “not particularly impressive” adding: “It was all about what they were going to do rather than what they have done. I think when you look at Lang Toun Fest and the Christmas events, they didn’t organise them - these were partnerships, but they seemed to take the credit. They need to know how to be part of that partnership.” He added: “There is a place for them in this town. If we give them the opportunity to get right, they could be a huge player going forward. I was impressed with the new trustees and that was encouraging thing for me.” Councillors welcomed the fact that LOLT board meetings will be open to its officers - previously just one invite was received and the event was cancelled - and that the group has already approached Fife Voluntary Action for an organisational health check to review its governance, and the new trustees are to get training.

Councillor Ian Cameron, convener (Kirkcaldy East, Labour) said: “We are giving new people with good skills sets a chance to sh ow it can be delivered - we need it to be delivered.”

The committee agreed to a recommendation to continue LOLT’s funding into 2027, but with a review in just six months when a report on its activities in that timescale will be presented to the October meeting.

LOLT has been approached for comment.