Council visit to Broadway to boost Gaiety

Jan 22 2010 by Stuart Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

SKINT council chiefs have splashed out on a theatre trip to New York.

South Ayrshire bosses lavished cash on the four night trip they labelled as “research” for one of their officers.

They claim Roddy Macdonald was sent to learn about the work of community theatres.

The Big Apple fact-finding mission was aimed at lending a hand to the Gaiety Theatre – shut by the council last year.

But the trip, uncovered by the Ayrshire Post, has sparked outrage among councillors who had no idea it took place.

And they plan to grill bosses at a meeting of the full council next week.

Labour’s Helen Moonie insisted: “Whenever people go abroad these days, it’s seen as a jolly.

“And if we don’t know about it, how are we supposed to assess its value to the council?

“We don’t know how much it cost, who went, and what they did while they were there.

“It begs the question as to what else is happening that we don’t know about.

“We need more transparency when it comes to issues that are decided behind closed doors.”

Under council rules, certain issues are determined without the need for approval by councillors on a committee. These are known as delegated powers.

Mr Macdonald, who jetted out to Broadway at the end of 2009, had his trip ratified by council top brass.

It comes hot on the heels of last year’s controversial visit to Dubai, when council chiefs spent thousands on a trip to promote South Ayrshire golf.

The latest trip came after an invite from New York theatre company 59E59, whose executive producer is from Ayr.

Mr Macdonald’s brief was to study a community theatre at work, with a view to implementing those ideas for the Gaiety, which hopes to re-open later this year.

But councillors can’t believe their officer needed to jet halfway around the world to do it.

Ian Cavana said: “There must be thousands of community theatres in the UK that Roddy could have visited.

“It seems ridiculous that he needed to go all the way to New York – and it was done in secret.”

Another councillor admitted to the Post: “You know a lot more than we do.”

But the council have defended Mr Macdonald’s mission to Broadway and insist it cost them less than £1000.

Council executive Harry Garland said: “South Ayrshire Council is working with The Ayr Gaiety Partnership with a view to reopening the Gaiety Theatre – a key element of which is to ensure we not only reopen the theatre, but keep it running for many years.

“To help achieve that, a chief officer recently visited New York at the invitation of a community theatre company called 59E59 Theaters and its executive producer, Peter Tear, who is from Ayr and very passionate about the role the Gaiety has to play in the local community.

“This fact-finding visit provided an opportunity for the council to see first-hand the structure and work of the theatre company, which is owned and operated by a not-for-profit foundation.

“It also gave us a chance to discuss possible cultural and theatrical links between Ayr and New York and engage with the acting community on fundraising for the Gaiety.

“The potential to develop a partnership like this is very exciting for the council, The Ayr Gaiety Partnership and the people of South Ayrshire.

“It will be a real stimulus not only for the future development of the Gaiety but also the wider arts and culture scene in South Ayrshire.

“We have to do everything we can to ensure the reopening of the Gaiety works at every level.

“There is no doubt what we learned in New York will make a significant difference and go a long way to help achieve that aim and reaffirm the Gaiety as the home of theatre in south-west Scotland while providing further opportunities for development.”