COWAL Highland Gathering sought a £30,000 financial lifeline from Argyll and Bute Council amid fears that key elements of this year’s event could have to be cancelled, a council report has revealed.
Organisers approached the local authority for £30,000 in additional cash support – or for the same amount to be underwritten – as mounting costs put increasing pressure on the financial viability of the world-famous Dunoon event.
The money was requested to allow the Gathering to proceed as planned, avoid the cancellation of key elements and give organisers what the council report describes as a realistic prospect of at least breaking even.
The financial pressures facing the Gathering were detailed in a report which went before Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy and Resources Committee on Thursday (August 20).
Rising costs for event infrastructure, insurance, staffing and general operations are all cited, alongside increasingly demanding safety and compliance requirements.
One particularly stark example is the cost of medals, which the report says has risen by more than £7,000 compared with previous years as a result of increases in the price of metal.
Organisers are also facing additional responsibilities associated with Martyn’s Law, including requirements around public protection, risk assessments, staff preparedness and emergency planning.
Councillor Ross Moreland, the council’s Policy Lead for Finance and Commercial Services, and an Executive Director met Gathering representatives on July 22 to discuss the situation.
However, organisers were told that the council could not commit to additional funding or underwriting before their deadline because wider political approval was required.
The next committee meeting at which approval could be sought was not until August 20.
The report makes clear that the timing meant no financial commitment could be made before the Gathering Board had to finalise its plans – rather than the council rejecting the request outright.
The door has also been left open to possible future assistance.
Councillor Moreland has agreed to meet the Gathering Board again after the event to review its position and consider what support may be available in future.
Organisers have also been told they can return to the council once the Gathering’s final financial position is known if the event has been unable to break even.
However, the report stresses that no commitment to additional funding has been made and the council has only indicated a willingness to consider what may be possible if further assistance is required.
