Charity and community organisations in and around Dorchester will not be getting any donations from the Sunday car boot sales this year.

Income has been badly hit by Covid and the market has not been held for most of the year.

The Dorchester joint markets panel decided this week (wed) that with only a small amount of income it would carry any donations over until the 2022-23 financial year.

Panel chairman councillor Molly Rennie said that even if grant income had been buoyant many of the charities and community organisations were either not operating, or uncertain about what they would be able to do for the rest of the year.

The panel heard that just over £5,000 would be transferred into the car boot reserve fund to give it a balance of around £15,600.

Grants of around £10,000 are made to local community and charity organisations each year from the fund for those based in Dorchester or within a six-mile distance from where the market is held.

Panel vice chairman, Cllr Jill Haynes, said that in view of the uncertainty and the limited amount of money available the best decision would be to hold any payments until the financial year beginning in April 2022.

She said that for organisations and charities locally which might need immediate help Dorset Council did have a limited fund with grants of up to £2,000 available – but applications would need to be submitted soon.

Dorchester town clerk Adrian Stuart told the online meeting that negotiations with Dorset Council about income from Fairfield parking on Sunday was still ongoing. The unitary council has introduced Sunday charging for parking from April after a decade when it had been free at Fairfield on Sunday.

The markets panel is arguing that if charges have to be made that income should go to the markets panel because the majority of those using the car park were doing so solely for the car boot sale.

Overall market income was down for the year with a net surplus for all market activities in Dorchester for 20-21 at £46,600 compared to the £123,200 anticipated, pre Covid. It gives Dorset Council approximately £27,000 and Dorchester Town Council £14,500 as their shares from the joint venture.