BALLAN parents are infuriated by a decision by Moorabool Shire Council not to fund the Ballan Out Of School Hours Care program.The decision not to fund the program until the end of the year was made at Wednesday’s ordinary council meeting.The council has since defended the decision, claiming it could not afford to cover the $33,000 gap to fund a program it has no responsibility for.The program, which is run by the YMCA, was originally due to terminate at the end of term one.Extensive lobbying from the parents saw the deadline extended to May 27.Parents say they are now approaching any possible community groups to keep the program running until alternative arrangements can be made.Ballan mother Narelle Dove, whose eldest son Jamie uses the service, said the council was out of touch with the needs of families in the community.“I’m so frustrated with the council and so angry and upset,” she said.“All we need is a bit of money to buy ourselves time to set up our own school-based program. We had been told we were likely to get $10,000 from them (the council).“They are a group of aged men who are out of touch with families and their needs in the community.”Moorabool Shire mayor Pat Griffin said council had a policy not to fund programs it was not responsible for and it would stick to the policy.“We don’t fund after-school programs. I feel for the parents in their situation but unfortunately they will have to try and get the program running themselves,” he said.Cr Griffin pointed to other successful school-based care programs in Myrniong and Bacchus Marsh and said they would be a good model for the parents to base a new program on.He said another possibility would be for parents to accept a rise in fees, as some were paying just $3.50 per session, after government subsidies.The parents will now look to establish a parent-run out-of-school care program.