Keeping keen eye on HOTA

A NEW Gold Coast City councillor has been brought in to “observe” happenings at HOTA as part of a crackdown on its spending.

The city’s arts board and administration is also being told it must improve its communication with the council in the lead-up to councillors making critical budget decisions.

Southport-based councillor Brooke Patterson will become an “observer” on the HOTA board, replacing veteran councillor Bob La Castra who Mayor Tom Tate described as “the cultural heart and soul” of the elected council.

Mr Tate told councillors: “Bob has kindly offered to step aside now so we can focus on the financial and governance aspects moving forward.

“In my view, Cr Brooke Patterson has the background to make a great contribution as council’s observer on the HOTA board.”

The Bulletin last year revealed a $500,000 blowout to transport one of the world’s biggest private art exhibitions to the gallery.

Many councillors were furious to learn the city faced an extra impost in securing the world premiere of the Contemporary Masters from New York, featuring iconic artists Andy Warhol and JeanMichel Basquiat.

Mr Tate and then-acting CEO Joe Mccabe conducted a review of the “seemingly onerous contract obligations” of the exhibition and if they could be removed. Council later allocated funding and Sharpe Advisory was retained to help with the review.

“That work has now been completed and I have been briefed on the findings, Cr Tate said. “All councillors will receive a copy of the final report when it is brought to council within the next two months.”

One of the key findings was the communication between

I DO NOT WISH TO WAIT FOR THE REPORT TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL TO IMPLEMENT THIS ASPECT OF THE CONSULTANT’S FINDINGS MAYOR TOM TATE

the HOTA board and the council. While the board should be allowed to oversee operations, there was a need for “better and more immediate communication”.

Mr Tate noted the next board meeting was March 22 and flagged significant budget decisions must be made before then.

“I do not wish to wait for the report to come back to council to implement this aspect of the consultant’s findings,” he said.

Ms Patterson told colleagues her focus, as an observer, would be on the finances rather than arts strategy at HOTA.

She said she would bring “a different skill set” to.

“I will lean on my experience as a company director graduate, experienced in governance with a background in finance,” she said.