A grant which helps Fenland’s parish councils maintain cemeteries, recreation grounds, war memorials and street lights may be scrapped within three years.

The Concurrent Functions Grants, which add up to £62,550 for 2013/4, are paid annually by Fenland District Council to the district’s 12 parish councils to help them with the cost of services under their authority.

But, under proposals which will be debated by FDC’s Cabinet next Thursday, these payments would be reduced and then abolished.

The total grant paid would drop to £41,700 in 2014/5, £20,850 in 2015/6 and be scrapped in 2016/7.

The grants, which were introduced in 1974, have previously been safeguarded despite Fenland District Council having to save more than £6 million over the past four years.

But further savings of more than £2 million need to be found over the next two years.