06-05-2025
Perth and Kinross Council to be awarded £97,000 from insurance after Perth Christmas Lights Switch-on cancellation
The annual Christmas event was cancelled in 2024 due to Storm Bert
Perth and Kinross Council has been told it will receive £97,000 through its insurance after last year's Christmas Lights event was cancelled due to bad weather.
Once received, the money will be reallocated to future events.
The news of the successful insurance claim was included in a revised 2024/25 revenue budget report presented to PKC's Finance and Resources Committee on Wednesday, April 30.
Last year, PKC took the decision - on the grounds of public safety - to cancel its annual Christmas Lights Switch-on due to take place on November 23 and 24, due to Storm Bert.
German dance group Cascada and sing-along band Massaoke were among the acts due to perform. It was the first time - other than during COVID - the event has had to be cancelled.
Due to the timescales and costs involved, an alternative date could not be arranged, but the Christmas cabins and Santa Grotto remained in place as planned.
In February 2025, PKC's Finance and Resources Committee agreed that - should the council's insurance claim for the cancelled event be successful - the money would be allocated to an earmarked reserve for future events.
The updated report by PKC's chief financial officer Scott Walker on the 2024/25 General Fund Revenue Budget - put before the committee on Wednesday - reported the claim had been successful.
He said: "The committee was previously advised that an insurance claim had been submitted for the cost associated with the cancellation of the November 2024 Christmas Lights Switch-on. The council has now received notification that the claim has been approved and the sum of £97,000 will be paid. As previously agreed by the committee, when received, this amount will be applied to an earmarked reserve for future events to augment activity in the future."
