‘Eden Court has to start paying its way’ – Highland councillors give new chief executive six months to deliver new funding agreement

Eden Court's new chief executive has been given six months to draw up a business plan.

Highland Council provides £300,000 of funding each year to the entertainment venue in Inverness, whose facilities includes two theatres as well as two cinema screens.

However, the council decided yesterday to put its business dealings on a more formal setting.

This decision comes ahead of the arrival of Rebecca Holt, who will take over the reins at Eden Court next month.

Councillor Ian Cockburn (Wester Ross, SNP) claimed the more remote parts of Highland do not see enough benefits from the Inverness venue.

He said: "The council can’t keep bleeding money into Eden Court.

"It has to start paying its way."

However cllr Gordon Adam (Black Isle, Lib Dems) stated that the venue's ambitious plans would make it less dependent on public funding.

Cllr Adam added that Eden Court now has an in-house production company for the first time in 40 years, and this would help extend its benefits well beyond Inverness.

He added: "Eden Court has not been slack in addressing its responsibilities.

"As a board member for the past five years I’ve been extremely impressed with the way Eden Court is run and I think its relationship with the council is a very successful one."

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