Hansard

The Convener: Lab

Item 2 on the agenda is the beginning of our inquiry into Scottish Ballet. I welcome the members of the public and press to the public gallery. I ask everybo...

Robert North:

A few years ago Scottish Ballet was going through a difficult period. The Scottish Arts Council had decided that the company should change from being a large...

The Convener: Lab

Do you want to add anything, Mr Thomson?

Renton Thomson:

My situation is one of some delicacy, because I am not authorised to speak as a spokesman on behalf of the board. I believe that I was called to the committe...

The Convener: Lab

You were invited because of your financial expertise. The committee has a legitimate role in monitoring how public funds are used. Obviously, a substantial a...

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): Con

When Mr North was appointed as artistic director of Scottish Ballet, there were questions in the background regarding what his relationship with any chief ex...

Robert North:

Before I accepted the appointment, I was informed that there would be a chief executive. Before that, Scottish Ballet did not have a chief executive, so I wo...

Mr Monteith: Con

From your experience as an artistic director, can you tell us where the relative costs and savings exist in contemporary and classical dance, given that you ...

Robert North:

The issue is complicated, but clearly classical dance produces savings. I come from both a classical and a contemporary dance background, and I have fought f...

Mr Monteith: Con

Could Robert North or Renton Thompson provide the committee with an indication of the current financial position? Is there a deficit?

Renton Thompson:

At the end of this year we expect there to be a deficit of about £400,000.

Mr Monteith: Con

Are we to conclude that this year the deficit has been reduced?

Renton Thompson:

It was reduced considerably by Scottish Ballet's share of the deficit grant that was given last year to both national companies, which totalled £327,000. Thi...

Mr Monteith: Con

Did the company operate last year at a trading profit or at a trading loss? What was the figure?

Renton Thompson:

Last year the company made a fairly serious loss of £260,000. That was caused by lack of income—off the top of my head, I think that it was 50 per cent lack ...

Mr Monteith: Con

Has the company managed to meet its budgets? You have spoken about the shortfall in income, but can you say something about production expenditure? Can you a...

Renton Thomson:

I must change my spectacles to deal with those questions.Happily, our production budgets have consistently been more or less on target or, indeed, under targ...

Michael Russell: SNP

Brian Monteith asked about Robert North's role. That role is described in correspondence between Magnus Linklater, who was then the chairman of the Scottish ...

Renton Thomson:

It was announced on 11 September, I think.

Robert North:

No, it was 15 August.

Renton Thomson:

I think that I was told an hour before the model was presented to the company. All the press announcements had been made, so there was no possibility of my i...

Robert North:

I was told about an hour and a quarter before the announcement.

Michael Russell: SNP

So there was no previous notification. Robert, you were and are in charge of the company's artistic direction. You are right to say that the plans are very v...

Robert North:

None.

Michael Russell: SNP

None whatsoever?

Robert North:

None.

Michael Russell: SNP

I see.I would like to ask Renton Thomson a question. The letter that invited you to this inquiry is quite clear. We received evidence from Mary Darke, who wi...

Renton Thomson:

First, I believe my responsibility for the accounts is absolute. Mr McGhie insisted that I do not speak for board policy and I fully understand that. I had a...

Michael Russell: SNP

Put simply, you believe that the board's decision is wrong.

Renton Thomson:

I believe that a proper process should have taken place, which could then have shone light on that decision.