Council steps in to save troubled Horsecross Financial assurances in June now‘don’t stand up’
council are having to come in to shore up the financial difficulty they are having.
“We were reassured in June but it transpires the figures don’t seem to stand up now.
“Also, the figures they had were only provided verbally at the meeting and the committee raised the point of the need get financial figures submitted before a committee meeting.
“Any figures that you can’t analyse isn’t acceptable. It is a shame it has come to this.
“The council couldn’t continue to give public money to it.
“They will be there to find out how much is needed and to manage this going forward.”
The situation will be looked at again at a scrutiny committee in September.
PKC has had to support the arts organisation over the last few years, most recently culminating in the establishment of a joint advisory group.
Council leader Murray Lyle said: “The council has repeatedly advised Horsecross Arts to improve their financial governance and long-term business planning.
“Council funding to the organisation has remained considerable, despite diminishing resources and increasing demands on public monies, with Horsecross receiving an increase in council funding in 2019/20.
“It is unfortunate that, despite this, Horsecross has been unable to develop a sustainable business model.” Councillor Grant Laing
Magnus Linklater, chair of Horsecross Arts, said: “The organisation has faced several challenges in recent years, not the least of which was reopening Perth Theatre at a time when there was a limited amount of funding for the artistic programme and two venues were being operated on a restricted budget.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Perth and Kinross Council to address the challenges of running our award-winning venues.”
The Horsecross Arts name and current programmes at both Perth Theatre and Perth Concert Hall will not change and all current bookings will be unaffected.