The decision to axe funding to a raft of community groups in Watford by the borough council’s ruling administration will come under scrutiny tonight.

Opposition politicians are due to discuss cuts to 13 organisations such as the Watford Muslim Community Project, the Watford African Caribbean Association and women’s centre.

The cost-cutting measures, which will save the council £260,000, were agreed by the ruling Liberal Democrat cabinet earlier this month.

The decision has been called-in by three councillors, Labour’s Asif Khan and Nigel Bell as well as Green Ken Brodhurst.

The trio expressed concern that the criteria by which organizations were assessed for continued funding was not applied consistently to all groups.

A statement from the three councillors said: “We feel that the "single-interest" criteria was not followed consistently across all groups and organisations and that the overall funding criteria was not followed consistently for all groups.

“We feel that groups and organisations were not given sufficient time to prepare for the possible loss of funding.”

The cuts decision will be discussed at the council’s overview and scrutiny committee tonight.

The committee does not have the power to overturn the cabinet’s decision, but can send it back to ruling councillors to vote on it again.