DAVID Cameron’s “Big Society” has been given the thumbs down after Colchester Council was forced to hand back nearly £250,000 intended for community projects.

Newly-published spending figures reveal the authority had to return £245,335 given to the borough for hitting Government targets.

The money was returned to the Essex Partnership, which administers the money on behalf of local authorities in the county, after the Government demanded £13million back.

The Big Society is the Conservatives’ plan to devolve more power to councils and communities.

Tina Dopson, Colchester councillor responsible for communities, said the council had been forced to cancel a number of its projects, and local charities and community groups also had to scrap some schemes.

Mrs Dopson said the cuts meant groups would be unable to offer the support and volunteering opportunities required for the Government’s Big Society project to be a success.

She said: “We got one of the best deals in the whole of Essex because we had performed really well in our national indicators in the borough, and it was a real smack in the face.

“We cut all the things we were doing ourselves, so it would have as little impact as possible on the voluntary sector. This is not the Big Society in action.”

Mrs Dopson said the Colchester Volunteer Service had to give back half of a £28,000 grant aimed at extending its services.

Colchester Community Voluntary Service returned £12,500 of £50,000 spent on supporting small charities.

Open Road handed back £12,000 of £46,000 originally pledged for a scheme to use the SOS Bus in the community, and help people with drug and alcohol addictions.

Colchester Council, Essex Police and NHS North East Essex reduced the number of Days of Action held.

A family intervention job was cancelled, and Colchester Borough Homes handyman scheme reduced.