A cash crisis lies at the heart of plans to change facility into an Early Learning Centre

The row over the CEVIC building stems from a cash crisis engulfing Catrine Community Trust who were responsible for running it, claim East Ayrshire Council.

The building on Ballochmyle Street was previously occupied by the Catrine Community Trust.

The Catrine Community Trust, formerly known as Catrine Voes Trust, was set up to improve and maintain the lands and properties it acquired for people living in the village.

The Trust, in partnership with the council, helped establish the Catrine Environmental Heritage Project ( CEHP).

This project centred on establishing and implementing a range of proposals that would “conserve, enhance and promote” the historic and environmental importance of Catrine.

Part of the project looked at the possibility of a hydro scheme, whereby electricity could be generated from a riverway to benefit the village as a whole.

The initial partnership approach ended, though, and in 2018 Catrine Community Trust experienced financial difficulties. This knock- on affect now leaves the CEVIC- and nursery- with question marks hanging over them.

David Mitchell, chief governance officer for East Ayrshire Council said: “We are clear that the discontinuation by both parties of the initial Partnership approach was not a material factor in the subsequent financial difficulties which the Trust subsequently found itself facing, although we are aware that other parties continue to promote an alternative narrative, albeit that is not

supported by the established facts.”

Mr Mitchell also claimed that a deal to acquire the CEVIC from the Trust was the only viable way in which the Trust could survive financially.

He said: “Catrine Community Trust is technically insolvent and is currently only able to keep operating due to the support of both East Ayrshire Council and Social Investment Scotland, as the two major creditors. Without this support the Trust would need to cease to operate and to initiate insolvency proceedings.”

Mr Mitchell said the council gave the Trust £ 259,000 which they can’t pay back and the council have had to write off this debt.

He insisted the council offered to buy the building for £ 325,000 and additional £ 60,000 of extra grant funding to the trust with the potential of £ 20,000 on top of that and writing off their debts.

He insisted the trust could still operate although in a scale- back form, to operate the hydropower project and benefit from the future income.

And Mr Mitchell claimed that if they didn’t agree this deal, then the trust may go bankrupt.

If they agree to the deal, Mr Mitchell insisted the trust could still operate although in a scaled- back form, to operate the hydropower project and benefit from the future income.

He added: “Should the deal not be implemented, the Trust is insolvent and will therefore need to immediately pursue formal winding- up.”

He added: “With regard to the future use of the CEVIC building, the facility has not fulfilled its potential.

“The option of converting it for use as an Early Childhood Centre was seen as a way of ensuring that the building could have a future as a public asset.

“The council had identified an alternative option for the delivery of 1140 hours early learning and childcare within Catrine and did not therefore have an absolute need to acquire the CEVIC building.

“However, the CEVIC is considered to be a more modern and better facility.”