A decision to award £150,000 of taxpayers’ money to a Dunfermline theatre is to be probed amid serious concerns about a lack of financial information.
Councillors will next week pore over the details of the settlement offered to Alhambra bosses, despite the fact the theatre has now said it will not be accepting the money.
Liberal Democrat councillor Tim Brett, who called it in to Tuesday’s scrutiny committee, said the issue had now descended into a shambles.
“I already had a number of questions about this but I now have even more in light of the Alhambra saying they don’t want this,” he said.
The council’s executive committee agreed to hand over just a third of the amount officers said the Alhambra had asked for, and refused a request to underwrite losses from booking major West End shows.
A report before the committee said theatre bosses had warned they could close in March without the bailout.
Alhambra manager Simon Fletcher this week insisted that was not true and accused council officers of not letting him see the report before it was issued.
Councillors are now said to be very confused over the situation, with one insider suggesting Mr Fletcher may have backed away after the award came laden with conditions including the insistence that more financial information be made available and that council representatives be appointed to the Alhambra Theatre Trust board.
“It’s completely bizarre and there doesn’t seem to be a clear strategy,” the source said.
Mr Brett, meanwhile, said it was imperative that councillors received more information.
“We want to know did the Alhambra make a request for funding?
“Did they say they were going to close as the report said they did, but they are now saying they aren’t?
“We would like to know if they submitted a business case.
“We would like more information on the discussions that have taken place between the Alhambra and Fife Cultural Trust.”
Mr Brett also questioned the Labour administration’s priorities by granting £150,000 to a private enterprise when they are seeking £20 million of savings in the next financial year.
“This looks as though, frankly, it’s a shambles,” he stated.
Mr Fletcher said this week that although the Alhambra had turned down the £150,000 offered, he would welcome further talks with the council about its future.
He insisted joint working with the council-owned Carnegie Hall would be the best way forward for both venues and would be a better use of public money.