Board asked to bail out festival

The Vincent Community Board is being asked to help bail out the Alexandra Blossom Festival, which has sustained three consecutive years of significant losses.

The board gives an annual grant of $26,000 to the festival and spends a further $9000 in festival-related costs such as insurance, advertising, hire of facilities, security services and overheads.

Acting festival committee chairman Tim Cadogan, who is the board's representative on the committee, said yesterday's estimates meeting was a good time to reconsider the board's contribution.

He said more money would have to come from somewhere.

"Is this an opportune time for the board to consider investing more in this festival?" Speaking as the acting chairman, he said the committee would be coming back to the board to ask for more funds.

Board chairwoman Clair Higginson said the annual plan submission process was a more appropriate way of addressing the matter.

Last week, Mr Cadogan said the 2009 festival had made a significant loss.

The amount would be revealed at the committee's annual meeting on March 1.

The festival made a loss of $38,325 in 2008 and of $22,983 in 2007.

The board also discussed the $45,000 it set aside for general promotions in the Alexandra area.

The funds are contestable and any group can apply for a grant.

Board member Tony Lepper believed the council got better value for money from the $10,000 it gave to Promote Dunstan than the $45,000 devoted to promotions in Alexandra.

"I don't think that's been spent in an overly constructive way in Alexandra over the past two years and every business ratepayer would like to see a reduction [in the amount they are rated for promotions]."

His suggestion it be reduced to $30,000 received no support.

Board member Martin McPherson hoped the festival committee and Alexandra Promotions group would call a public meeting to gauge funding options for their activities.