Latest news with #UniqueAssembly
Scotsman
13-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Council secrecy over Christmas events casts a shadow
Edinburgh's Christmas Market and Hogmanay celebrations have never been far from controversy. Yet again concerns are bubbling away over procurement rules and the council's ability to recover funds from operators. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... At last month's full council my Conservative colleague Phil Doggart asked the council leader a simple question. He prefaced it by indicating he had been asking officers similar questions for six weeks without an answer. Phil said: 'Can the council leader confirm that Unique Assembly has complied with all the terms of the winter festivals contract and is not in breach of any terms of the contract, and the council has received all monies due to it.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The council leader read a prepared statement that didn't answer the question, deflected onto the cancellation of events because of weather and puffed up the benefit of the winter and summer festivals. What she did say was that work was ongoing and reporting would go to two council committees. She then used the pretext of allowing local companies who are suppliers to the contractor to be reimbursed first. The second committee met yesterday with the only reporting being a short cryptic reference to the committee having 'received correspondence' and that a legal review of issues raised was under way. Equally cryptic was the noting of the response to two Freedom of Information requests which seem to admit the funds due have not been paid. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Councillors clearly aren't happy with the secrecy as another political party added to the tension by lodging an amendment calling for a lot more information to be released to councillors, even if this must happen in private. Loved by many and loathed by others, the market's use of public space by private operators for profit causes a public debate. Reinstatement of public areas causes annoyance. Seeming flouting of planning rules has, in the past, led to allegations of preferential treatment. There is then the issue of whether this helps all year-round local businesses who pay rates and property costs by bringing footfall. Or whether it draws business away to short term market operators imported from elsewhere. Given this, you would think the council would be making sure that the procurement of these events was squeaky clean. Yet the correspondence seems to be linked to other potential operators who failed to get the contract. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If the council wants the controversy to go away it will have to openly show it is acting in the best interests of the taxpayer and local businesses and has complied with all the legal rules. The disinfectant of sunlight is required here but watch this space as it may take some time.
Edinburgh Reporter
06-06-2025
- 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
06-06-2025
- 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
