We’re happy to spend our cash on culture Council leader insists local authority is right to support Trust
The leader of East Renfrewshire Council has insisted that financially propping up culture and leisure services is the right decision.
Tony Buchanan was speaking as cabinet members penned a letter to auditors giving assurances that the local authority would continue to support East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure Trust (ERCLT).
Earlier this year, members were forced to write a ‘letter of comfort’ to ensure the Trust was able to continue operating.
That came after the council handed over £225,000 to cover a massive overspend by the Trust.
Mr Buchanan said: “The decision was taken to provide the letter because these are our culture and leisure services and it’s right that we support all areas.
“The action to issue the letter is the right one. It simply states that this is council business. I was certainly happy with the letter.”
ERCLT operated within budget from its establishment in July 2015 until March 31, 2017, however, during 2017/ 18 it forecast a projected overspend of some £ 277,000, after utilisation of reserves at March 31 this year.
A management plan was implemented and that overspend was reduced to £225,000.
Visits to libraries across East Renfrewshire have dropped for the second year running, with a 4.1 per cent fall this year alone. Much of that fall was blamed on the partial closure of the Barrhead Foundry.
That came despite the number of books being borrowed going up seven per cent for adults and two per cent for children.
Leisure centre attendances were up five per cent on 2016/17, while gym use rose by 10 per cent.
Mr Buchanan added: “We know that there are reductions in some of our visits to libraries, but I was pleased to see that usage is up quite significantly in some respects.
“It shows that the services are delivering for our residents and that’s despite some periods of closure for some facilities.
“Not only were works required ( at the Foundry) but we are starting to see some of the results from that.
“There was concern around the overspend when it was recognised there was an issue in terms of financing and it’s good to see that there is a plan to better use the resources.”
A report by the council’s head of accountancy, Margaret McCrossan, revealed that the number of people attending theatre shows in the local authority went up by a quarter to 16,276.
And customer satisfaction rates with community facilities including cleanliness, staff performance and overall service was above 97 per cent.
The report also showed that since July 2015, the council has saved £420,000 per year on non- domestic rates relief and VAT efficiencies.