A LONG-ESTABLISHED arts group had to grapple for funding after its annual cash boost from Southend Council was rejected.

Southend Arts Council, set up in 1978, is the umbrella group for the arts in the town, with a membership of 43 societies and 50 individual members.

The group usually receives £3,000 from Southend Council to help with its running costs, but this year was informed its application had been unsuccessful.

However, David Garston, councillor responsible for culture, eventually managed to secure £1,500 for the group after admitting there was a "lack of communication" between council departments. Florrie Holland, chairman of the arts council, said the organisation was surprised to receive a letter saying the grant was not forthcoming.

She said: "We are now going to have a meeting next Tuesday to try to make sure it doesn't happen again next year."

Mr Garston said the arts council's grant application was turned down by the grant strategy working party, on the advice of officers, because it was low scoring against other applications.

He explained: "When I heard about this I was quite horrified, because it's an organisation that has done a tremendous amount of good. I got the officers of our department to look into it and we funded them an inital £1,500.

"I've asked officers to look at this to make sure it can be rectified for next year." The arts council has now also received £1,000 from the Southend Fund, a charity set up by former mayor Howard Briggs, to help run its website www.sosac.co.uk A meeting is being held on Tuesday with councillors Ann Holland and Jim Clinkscales to review the funding situation.

Ann Holland said: "The arts council is important for the town because it brings together all the local amateur art, culture, drama, music and poetry groups under one umbrella.

"They are going from strength to strength and we must value and recognise all the work that is being done to enhance the cultural scene in the town."