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Edinburgh Reporter
8 hours ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Hogmanay cash clawback will be ‘transparent'
Edinburgh council is still working to reclaim almost £430,000 in grants and income from organisers of last year's cancelled Hogmanay event. All of the city's outdoor Hogmanay events on 30 and 31 December last year were cancelled due to severe weather, with attendees securing refunds from organiser Unique Events. Council officers presented a report to councillors on the 2024/25 winter festivals on Thursday, which showed that the winter festivals were largely successful. However, it also said that the city was still working to secure almost £220,000 in expected income from Unique Events, and £208,000 in grant money used for the event. Officers said an open-book audit will be conducted into the Hogmanay celebrations, in order to 'ensure no enrichment has occurred' as a result of the cancellation. SNP councillor Lesley McInnes asked officers: 'Is there a clear indication about when those items of outstanding repayment to the council will be settled?' Adam Henry, a council officer covering festivals and events, said: 'We're working with the contractors at the moment, and agreeing a payment plan for those. 'We've had the most recent submission of their accounts, and the figure stated [in the report] has been revised and increased. We're currently expecting a figure in excess of £208,000. 'That process is ongoing, but we expect it to be concluded shortly.' Mr Henry also said that the organisers were working with their insurance adjusters, and that they expected payment to be made shortly. Gareth Barwell, the city's Executive Director of Place, added: 'We are aware this is a very high public interest matter. Just to give an undertaking for the record that there will be a public domain report on this when we conclude it. 'There are some legal issues we're dealing with which means we can't discuss it in a public forum right now. 'But I do want to reassure members of the public that there will be a report that comes back that sets out a settlement sum and a justification behind it, so everyone can understand how those final figures have been arrived at.' The city expected to make a total profit from the Hogmanay celebrations of just under £669,000, just under two-thirds of which has been paid by the event organisers. In 2024, Unique Assembly, a partnership of Unique Events and Assembly Festivals, was given a three year contract to run the city's winter festivals, with two year-long extensions possible. The 2024/2025 Hogmanay was carried out by Unique Events on its own, while future Hogmanay celebrations will be carried out by Unique Assembly. Councillors agreed to note the report, and added a request for officers to ask the organisers for details of air pollution monitoring they said they would carry out. Additionally, they agreed to an addendum expressing concern over the 'governance, legal compliance and financial enforcement' of the winter festivals contracts and asking for a private briefing from the council's legal team on that subject. However, the committee had already received a briefing from the legal team by the time the committee meeting was conducted. Conservative councillor Tim Jones said: 'My initial concerns here were that critical facts regarding the governance, legal compliance and financial enforcement of the contracts had not been fully disclosed and discussed. 'Now we have received a legal briefing which needs time to be considered. If my understanding is correct, we are going to have another report brought back for discussion.' Labour councillor Margaret Graham, convener of the Culture and Communities Committee, said: 'The findings of this report demonstrate the many benefits Edinburgh's winter festivals deliver to local communities, businesses, and charities, despite the cancellation of last year's outdoor events. 'Our Winter Festivals, which last year attracted a footfall of almost 3m, contribute significantly to the wellbeing of our residents by providing activities for all ages and income brackets to enjoy during the festive season. 'The events bring positive economic benefit for the city and for Scotland as a whole, supporting jobs in the tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors, among others. 'However, it's essential that we continue to be transparent around the enforcement of the contract, and as agreed at Culture and Communities Committee additional briefings on the matter will be delivered to members, alongside an open book audit of Edinburgh's Hogmanay.' By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
9 hours ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Council still to reclaim almost £430,000 from cancelled Hogmanay event
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Edinburgh council is still working to reclaim almost £430,000 in grants and income from organisers of last year's cancelled Hogmanay event. All of the city's outdoor Hogmanay events on 30 and 31 December last year were cancelled due to severe weather, with attendees securing refunds from organiser Unique Events. Council officers presented a report to councillors on the 2024/25 winter festivals on Thursday, which showed that the winter festivals were largely successful. However, it also said that the city was still working to secure almost £220,000 in expected income from Unique Events, and £208,000 in grant money used for the event. Officers said an open-book audit will be conducted into the Hogmanay celebrations, in order to 'ensure no enrichment has occurred' as a result of the cancellation. SNP councillor Lesley McInnes asked officers: 'Is there a clear indication about when those items of outstanding repayment to the council will be settled?' Adam Henry, a council officer covering festivals and events, said: 'We're working with the contractors at the moment, and agreeing a payment plan for those. 'We've had the most recent submission of their accounts, and the figure stated [in the report] has been revised and increased. We're currently expecting a figure in excess of £208,000. 'That process is ongoing, but we expect it to be concluded shortly." Mr Henry also said that the organisers were working with their insurance adjusters, and that they expected payment to be made shortly. Gareth Barwell, the city's Executive Director of Place, added: 'We are aware this is a very high public interest matter. Just to give an undertaking for the record that there will be a public domain report on this when we conclude it. 'There are some legal issues we're dealing with which means we can't discuss it in a public forum right now. 'But I do want to reassure members of the public that there will be a report that comes back that sets out a settlement sum and a justification behind it, so everyone can understand how those final figures have been arrived at.' The city expected to make a total profit from the Hogmanay celebrations of just under £669,000, just under two-thirds of which has been paid by the event organisers. In 2024, Unique Assembly, a partnership of Unique Events and Assembly Festivals, was given a three year contract to run the city's winter festivals, with two year-long extensions possible. The 2024/2025 Hogmanay was carried out by Unique Events on its own, while future Hogmanay celebrations will be carried out by Unique Assembly. Councillors agreed to note the report, and added a request for officers to ask the organisers for details of air pollution monitoring they said they would carry out. Additionally, they agreed to an addendum expressing concern over the 'governance, legal compliance and financial enforcement' of the winter festivals contracts and asking for a private briefing from the council's legal team on that subject. However, the committee had already received a briefing from the legal team by the time the committee meeting was conducted. Conservative councillor Tim Jones said: 'My initial concerns here were that critical facts regarding the governance, legal compliance and financial enforcement of the contracts had not been fully disclosed and discussed. 'Now we have received a legal briefing which needs time to be considered. If my understanding is correct, we are going to have another report brought back for discussion.' Labour councillor Margaret Graham, convener of the Culture and Communities Committee, said: 'The findings of this report demonstrate the many benefits Edinburgh's winter festivals deliver to local communities, businesses, and charities, despite the cancellation of last year's outdoor events. 'Our Winter Festivals, which last year attracted a footfall of almost 3m, contribute significantly to the wellbeing of our residents by providing activities for all ages and income brackets to enjoy during the festive season. 'The events bring positive economic benefit for the city and for Scotland as a whole, supporting jobs in the tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors, among others. 'However, it's essential that we continue to be transparent around the enforcement of the contract, and as agreed at Culture and Communities Committee additional briefings on the matter will be delivered to members, alongside an open book audit of Edinburgh's Hogmanay.'
South Wales Guardian
27-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Edinburgh winter festivals worth almost £200 million to city
Research published by events organiser Unique Assembly found that more than 2.8 million people visited Edinburgh's seasonal attractions, which included an ice rink, Christmas market and a funfair. Outdoor Hogmanay events including the Street Party, Concert in the Gardens and the midnight fireworks were cancelled on December 31 last year due to worsening weather conditions, days after the torchlight procession was cancelled amid high winds. However all indoor Hogmanay events went ahead and welcomed an estimated audience of more than 25,000 people over four days. The report found that the total economic impact of Edinburgh's Winter Festivals was £198 million, combining the financial impact of both Edinburgh's Christmas (£150 million) and Edinburgh's Hogmanay (£48 million.) Alan Thomson, from Unique Assembly, said: 'We take a lot of heart from this report that, even having lost our outdoor events at Edinburgh's Hogmanay to weather, the Winter Festivals have still delivered not just wonderful and joyful opportunities for people to come together, but also huge benefits for the people of Edinburgh and for Scotland across traders, local families, communities and charities and our tourism businesses. 'We are working on our plans for this coming winter's celebrations and look forward to sharing those with you very soon.' The seven weeks of winter events and attractions were created and designed by Unique Assembly on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council. An annual audience survey of more than 3,000 people found that more than 70% of visitors from outside the city cited Edinburgh's Christmas as their main reason for travelling to Scotland's capital. Margaret Graham, Edinburgh City Council culture and communities convener, said: 'The findings of this report demonstrate that Edinburgh's world-famous winter festivals don't only draw a huge international crowd, boosting the economy and adding to the city's vibrant calendar of events, but, crucially, they deliver significant benefits to Edinburgh's local communities, businesses and charities. 'This is despite the cancellation of last year's outdoor events, showing just how far-reaching the programme of events is. 'I look forward to finding out more about this year's plans, which look set to brighten the city in the winter months.' Early-bird tickets for this year's Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party and Torchlight Procession go on sale on Friday May 30 at 10am at
Leader Live
27-05-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Edinburgh winter festivals worth almost £200 million to city
Research published by events organiser Unique Assembly found that more than 2.8 million people visited Edinburgh's seasonal attractions, which included an ice rink, Christmas market and a funfair. Outdoor Hogmanay events including the Street Party, Concert in the Gardens and the midnight fireworks were cancelled on December 31 last year due to worsening weather conditions, days after the torchlight procession was cancelled amid high winds. However all indoor Hogmanay events went ahead and welcomed an estimated audience of more than 25,000 people over four days. The report found that the total economic impact of Edinburgh's Winter Festivals was £198 million, combining the financial impact of both Edinburgh's Christmas (£150 million) and Edinburgh's Hogmanay (£48 million.) Alan Thomson, from Unique Assembly, said: 'We take a lot of heart from this report that, even having lost our outdoor events at Edinburgh's Hogmanay to weather, the Winter Festivals have still delivered not just wonderful and joyful opportunities for people to come together, but also huge benefits for the people of Edinburgh and for Scotland across traders, local families, communities and charities and our tourism businesses. 'We are working on our plans for this coming winter's celebrations and look forward to sharing those with you very soon.' The seven weeks of winter events and attractions were created and designed by Unique Assembly on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council. An annual audience survey of more than 3,000 people found that more than 70% of visitors from outside the city cited Edinburgh's Christmas as their main reason for travelling to Scotland's capital. Margaret Graham, Edinburgh City Council culture and communities convener, said: 'The findings of this report demonstrate that Edinburgh's world-famous winter festivals don't only draw a huge international crowd, boosting the economy and adding to the city's vibrant calendar of events, but, crucially, they deliver significant benefits to Edinburgh's local communities, businesses and charities. 'This is despite the cancellation of last year's outdoor events, showing just how far-reaching the programme of events is. 'I look forward to finding out more about this year's plans, which look set to brighten the city in the winter months.' Early-bird tickets for this year's Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party and Torchlight Procession go on sale on Friday May 30 at 10am at
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Edinburgh's winter festivals were worth almost £200m
Edinburgh's winter festivals were worth almost £200m to the city last year, despite the cancellation of the outdoor Hogmanay events, according to a new published by events organiser Unique Assembly found more than 2.8 million people visited Edinburgh's seasonal attractions, which included an ice rink, Christmas market and a events including the Street Party, Concert in the Gardens and the midnight fireworks were cancelled on 31 December due to worsening weather conditions, days after the torchlight procession was cancelled amid high Hogmanay events went ahead with an estimated audience of more than 25,000 people over four days. The report found the total economic impact of Edinburgh's Winter Festivals was £198m, combining the financial impact of both Edinburgh's Christmas (£150m) and Edinburgh's Hogmanay (£48m)Unique Assembly's Alan Thomson said: "We take a lot of heart from this report that, even having lost our outdoor events at Edinburgh's Hogmanay to weather, the winter festivals have still delivered."He added that they were working on next year's annual audience survey of more than 3,000 people found more than 70% of visitors from outside the city cited Edinburgh's Christmas as their main reason for travelling to Scotland's Graham, Edinburgh City Council culture and communities convener, said: "The findings of this report demonstrate that Edinburgh's world-famous winter festivals don't only draw a huge international crowd, boosting the economy and adding to the city's vibrant calendar of events, but, crucially, they deliver significant benefits to Edinburgh's local communities, businesses and charities."This is despite the cancellation of last year's outdoor events, showing just how far-reaching the programme of events is.
