The rarely-used casting vote of Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll indirectly secured a $2000 grant for guernseys for the Glencoe Football Club.

Council spent 20 minutes debating a staff report at its September monthly meeting in Millicent about various recommended grant allocations for sporting clubs and community groups.

Staff had recommended grants for five groups including Glencoe but this drew opposition from some quarters.

According to Councillor Moira Neagle it was a gender equity issue as football clubs presumably paid their players but expected their netballers to meet their own uniform costs.

Cr Dale Price said the grant would be used for underage team guernseys which included some girls.

He said parents of footballers already had such expenses as transport costs and entrance fees.

Cr Sharon Cox said the staff had made their recommendations in line with the policies set by the council.

Cr Deb Agnew said sporting clubs had the capacity to fundraise for items such as guernseys.

An amended motion backing grants for four clubs but not Glencoe was moved by Cr Neagle.

The vote was tied at five-all and the mayor used his casting vote to defeat it.

The original motion from Cr Price to award grants to Glencoe and the four other clubs was then passed 6-4.

The other recipients of sport and recreation grants are the Hatherleigh Sport and Recreation Centre, Millicent United Soccer Club and SE Field and Game (all $2000) and the Beachport Pony Club ($1500).