Edinburgh Gathering 2009 - now the Inquiry

[Phil]

Today's Scotsman has this story that an official inquiry is to be set up to look into the losses incurred by the Gathering earlier this year -
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scot...ney.5767806.jp - .
There seem to be questions about Lord Jamie Sempill, the organiser of the thing and a loan made to another company of which he is a Director, Panalba Ltd which he says cannot be paid back. Sounds as though there is some poo-poo waiting to hit the fan. Looks like another big bill for the poor taxpayer.

[cessna152towser]

As I have said before Homecoming Scotland 2009 overall has been a huge success but the Edinburgh Gathering stands out as disappointing.
Our local junior pipe band were invited to play at the gathering and they performed at the pageant and also on both days of the gathering. Parents took their youngsters to Edinburgh and stayed the weekend at their own expense. The gathering organisers had promised a substantial donation to the band's funds if they would perform at the gathering, but as of last week the band had received not one penny. Hopefully now that public money is being made to bail out the debts incurred by the gathering organisers, they might do the decent thing and come good on the donation they promised the band.

[McClef]

The results of the enquiry should be interesting.

[skauwt]

typical really
the words, scotland, inquiry ,funding, taxpayer seem to go together alot these days ,
i guess someone will get there hen-en kicked for this

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Hmm. Let's see:

The Gathering dumps an estimated 10.4 million into the Scottish economy.

Of that amount an estimated 8 million is spent in Edinburgh.

Now as I understand it, the company, PanAlba Ltd., which raised the lion's share of the sponsorship for the event received a loan (referred to as a grant in some reports) of 38,000 pounds. However, they sustained a loss of 600,000 pounds producing the event. Despite that loss, DEMA (Destination Edinburgh Marketing Alliance) a semi-state body charged with promoting tourism, has now merged with PanAlba, Ltd. and it looks now as if another gathering will be held in 2011 or 2012.

I rather doubt that there is any skulduggery involved in the finances of the Gathering. Big events cost money, and that a event the size of the Gathering could be put on with as little loss as it sustained seems, at least to me, to be nothing short of miraculous. I submit that if the entire event had been government run, and the cost to the tax payers had been 600k (about 50 pence per person in Edinburgh) everyone would be congratulating the government on a job well done.

But, because this was done by private enterprise, often a dirty word in some Scottish political circles, it seems to me that the complaints in the media are largely voiced by a few people people who resent-- or begrudge-- the fact that some of the organizers have a title.

Well, title or no, they really deserve the thanks of Scots everywhere for having done something for Scotland without thought of personal or political benefit to themselves.

[McClef]

Not wishing to get into the politics of public v private but we have seen a lot lately about private enterprise (banks etc) being bailed out by the public purse.

That is nothing to do with titles but if it had made a profit would that have been shared out amongst the good burghers of Edinburgh?

Let's keep to seeing where the lessons can be learnt for the future when the enquiry report is available.

[Paul]

Theyve made tens of thousands out of merchandise and their DVD since the actual event. They wont need £600k... probably a lot less - especially since they've stocked hundreds of whisky decanters at £160 a pop - making over £150 per.
They've sold thousands of copies of the official DVD for £15 each... a DVD would cost them 30p or less to duplicate in batches. Same with the CD.

I agree with McClef about businesses. I believe that if the Scottish Government of 4 years ago that set the initial preparations for the event had been the current we would have seen a much brighter picture on the aftermath of The Gathering.

[McClef]

That sounds like a political point Paul.

But all the surplus merchandise is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it.

[Paul]

That sounds like a political point Paul.

But all the surplus merchandise is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it.

It's down to prioritisng public sectors of employment. It just so happenes the the last government never even considered this option for the Gathering.
My friend's sister works for the Gathering - dishing out merchandise and they've sold thousands of everything... t-shirts, pins, badges, CDs etc. according to their sales figures. It also seems like a lot of people from overseas are placing large orders - upto £500 sometimes! There was also one massive one... I don't recall the exact figure though.

To be honest most companies are in some sort of debt. I just found out that Rangers are in bigger financial difficulty than ever - £30-40m and big Walter's hating his lack of control over issues as The Bank of Scotland - who own a great deal of shares are dictating what happens in the club recently.

[Hamish]

Paul, thank you for reminding me about the DVD. I had forgotten that I ordered one months ago and I seem to remember being told that it would be available at the end of September, but I have not heard anything more. I'll have to look into that when I get a moment.

Take care,
Ham.