VOLUNTEERS at 12 Oxford community centres have refused to pay their business rates in a revolt over funding, it emerged last night.

Oxford City Council said it would no longer help with the cost of business rates for 22 city community centres.

The local authority said the move would save around £25,000 a year and was part of a wider cost-saving drive.

But representatives of 12 of the city’s community associations claimed the council’s decision was not in keeping with a funding code.

They unanimously agreed to withhold the annual payment – due on April 1 – until it was reviewed.

Bill Baker, chairman of the Oxford Federation of Community Associations, said: “We decided to withhold payment of the business rates until they have had an opportunity to follow the proper required process to apply for grant aid. We expect them to carry out what they signed up to.

“We are sending Oxford City Council a letter explaining why we are doing it. If they refuse to pay out, we will think about taking further action. We might just continue to refuse to pay.”

He estimated the total sum due to be withheld would top £20,000.

The associations are responsible for the room hire and administration of the council-owned centres, which are used as a meeting place by hundreds of community groups.

Community associations are eligible for an 80 per cent discount on the business rate because they are registered charities.

Antonia Bance, the council’s executive member for social inclusion, said: “This council had to make more than £5m worth of cuts in the last budget round. We would like to be able to give the community groups and their volunteers more support than we can.”

For the past two years, the council has paid the associations a grant equivalent to the remaining 20 per cent of the business rates.

Mr Baker said: “It’s a lot of money we have to find when we are on a budget, and with all the bills going up we are struggling with the credit crunch.

“For us to find this money is totally wrong and we feel very angry about it. The council is so desperate to save money it is just chopping anything it can.”

Ray Clare, treasurer and secretary of Wood Farm Community Centre, said his association would need to find £465 – two per cent of its budget.

He said: “I think the council should pay it. It is an additional burden for us – a tremendous amount of money to find.”

Bill Buckingham, president and secretary of Rose Hill Community Association, said: “I know the council is hard pushed, but it should be able to scrape together the money.”

The centre on strike are: Cutteslowe, North Oxford, Wood Farm, East Oxford, Rose Hill, Donnington, South of Oxford, Bullingdon, Headington, Northway, Barton, West Oxford,