An MBE award winning councillor, who helped set up the West Kilbride Community Initiative, has criticised membership procedures that have been introduced for the limited company.

Independent councillor Liz McLardy has said it is wrong that the company is now vetting anybody that puts their name forward for membership, and says that it is an ‘appalling way to go’. Questions have also been raised concerning the separation of both the Craft Group and the West Kilbride Initiative by the local councillor who has served West Kilbride since the 1970s.

In a letter sent out to current members, Initiative chairperson Kay Hall stated: “In accordance with the new Articles of Association, members are required to re-register annually. Failure to re-register may cause the directors, by resolution, to expel you from membership.

“Members are expected to support the objects and activities of the company. Each application for membership will be considered by the directors and applicants will be informed of the decision whether to admit you wihthin the following seven days.” However, Cllr. McLardy said: “It was myself that set up the initiative all these years ago, and I think this is shocking. All the assets that they are responsible for and managing all belong to our community. I just don’t understand it, and the letter has an appalling tone. They will now vet anybody who puts their name forward.” Cllr. McLardy has also questioned why the community initiative and the craft town have been split up and don’t come under the same umbrella. She said: “I don’t know what the set-up is now at all. There should have been a public meeting ot discuss it, but nobody has discussed this in public as far as I am aware. Who is now responsible for the Green Centre or the Barony - the problem is - you don’t know who is responsible. People are being left in the dark. There really should have been a public or members’ meeting in which they told us what they are intending to do.” It is not the first time that Cllr. McLardy has had differences with local organisations. Six months ago, she strongly criticised the Kirktonhall Media Group after she was ousted as a member - a decision which she said left her in tears.

In response, Kay Hall of the Initiative, said: "After taking advice from national charity lawyers Burness Paull it was decided to separate the Initiative from Craft Town Scotland to safeguard accumulated assets for future generations. This model removes the assets from any economic vulnerability which may impact during times of recession. The change was recommended to, and agreed by, our membership at a General Meeting in 2013. West Kilbride Community Initiative Limited is therefore the Landlord of the properties currently owned or managed. Craft Town Scotland leases these properties and manages them in accordance with the objectives of the organisation. The Initiative is the sole shareholder of Craft Town Scotland and will work closely with them to ensure a viable and successful future. The two organisations have three Directors in common." Mrs Hall added: "It was also recommended to current members that the membership is updated each year and that we should expect members to be positive and to act in our best interest. This was also agreed and will provide a pool of members who are interested and encouraging.

"All these changes are included in the new Articles of Association which were adopted by the membership in 2013. We are required to include references to particular Articles in formal correspondence to our membership. As a business and a charity much of our communication has to be formal but we hope to hold a more relaxed and informative AGM as soon as the new membership applications have been approved."