Friends of Levengrove Park will meet with West Dunbartonshire councillors to discuss their funding application for almost £20,000 to buy two new tri-shaw bikes.
The organisation had applied to the Dumbarton Trust Fund, which is administered by the local authority, for £19,800 to establish their Levengrove Cycle without Age project.
They will now be asked to present a business plan to councillors on their plans for the tri-shaws which will see volunteers cycle elderly members of the community around Levengrove Park in a bid to tackle social isolation.
Proposals were presented to the Dumbarton Trust Fund committee last week but concerns were raised that awarding the full amount would only leave £4,900 in the funding pot for other organisations to use.
SNP councillor Karen Conaghan said: “This looks like a really worthwhile project and looks like something that people would get a lot out of.
“However I am concerned about spending this amount of money. Is it possible for the organisation to rent one of these for a period of time and see what the demand is like and then buy one in the future.
“I would be moving that we continue this application to s future committee and we get a bit more information from the group to see if they have done any research on this and to see whether it would be possible to enter into a lease agreement for one of them?
“Perhaps they would be happy to be funded for one of them with the option to expand if it is successful.
“I do think that while it is a good project, I have concerns about the amount we are laying out and what that leaves for other worthwhile causes.”
Members agreed that they wanted more information from the group on how the project would be run.
Councillor Iain McLaren added: “I would like to see some sort of business plan brought forward by the group to demonstrate how the money will be spent and perhaps a one or two year plan to fund the vehicles.
“Councillor Conaghan’s suggestion for a lease deal is very apt and the way forward.”
It was agreed that the application and further information will be brought back before committee at the earliest opportunity.
