Mareel - Cinema & Music Venue

[spencey7]

Maybe these "crusaders" should have got their facts straight before rushing off to the EC:

“It should be noted that Mareel has a number of potential funders some state, some not. There are no state funds supporting the running costs of the cafe bar when Mareel opens.â€

[MuckleJoannie]

Maybe these "crusaders" should have got their facts straight before rushing off to the EC:

“It should be noted that Mareel has a number of potential funders some state, some not. There are no state funds supporting the running costs of the cafe bar when Mareel opens.â€

 

There was an item last night on Radio Shetland about a leaked SIC report that showed that several cafes/restaurants funded by the SIC or Charitable Trust make annual losses of teens of thousands.

[Colin]

Maybe these "crusaders" should have got their facts straight before rushing off to the EC:

“It should be noted that Mareel has a number of potential funders some state, some not. There are no state funds supporting the running costs of the cafe bar when Mareel opens.â€

 

Maybe you should learn to read..

[WiiMan]

Maybe these "crusaders" should have got their facts straight before rushing off to the EC:

“It should be noted that Mareel has a number of potential funders some state, some not. There are no state funds supporting the running costs of the cafe bar when Mareel opens.â€

 

Council = State Aid

 

Development Trust = State Aid

 

HIE Shetland = State Aid

 

Lottery Fund = State Aid

 

Charitable Trust = State Aid

 

ERDF = State Aid

 

And that all adds up to one mighty big problem regardless of what Glum Gibberins might think! I know it's been said that the bar is only 8% of the building but I would expect 100% of the building to be licensed to sell the alcohol that makes up 45% or so, of the income the place is supposed to make! It doesn't matter whether or not the bar needs a subsidy when 100% of the building it's in has been built with 'state' funds.

 

The 'potential funders' bit is telling. Never mind 'potential funders' who is actually committed to funding this project? We're told they'll have a builder in a few weeks. I expect the builder would like to get paid for the whole job.

 

If any 'crusaders' need to get their facts right I think now would be a good time for Shetland Arts, three years too late but better late than never.

 

Anybody hear Councillor Laura Baisley on Radio Shetland tonight? When asked if she would put her money into Mareel, she said she thought she would rather buy some plants! And that's somebody who is supposed to be supporting the nonsense we have come to know as Mareel.

[Spinner72]

I've considered whether this is the right place for this post, but since it is unquestionably related and more likely to be discussed here, i'll go with this thread, but feel free to split off mods if appropriate.

 

My concerns are regarding the letter in the times this week (01/08/08 ) from Cllr's Robinson & Wills.

 

These people seem to be determined to display a fundimental lack of understanding in local and national government funding and budgetary operations, worrying in itself, but more importantly are blatantly ignoring one of the most fundimental aspects of their jobs as elected members, that of supporting decisions taken by the council regardless of personal or political views.

 

If this were to happen in any other organisation, they would, i'm sure, not have jobs to return to.

 

Please understand this post is nothing to do with the for/against Mareel issue, but is concerned with at very best a display of total ignorance by people we are supposed to trust to make decisions for us.

 

There are many ongoing issues to keep elected members busy, how can we ever hope for swift economical decision making when some of them cant grasp the simple notion of finishing one task and moving on.

[Talpa]

I know it's been said that the bar is only 8% of the building but I would expect 100% of the building to be licensed to sell the alcohol that makes up 45% or so, of the income the place is supposed to make! It doesn't matter whether or not the bar needs a subsidy when 100% of the building it's in has been built with 'state' funds.

 

Please can you clarify what you mean?

 

Where does it say that alcohol will be 45% of Mareel's revenue???!!!

[WiiMan]

I know it's been said that the bar is only 8% of the building but I would expect 100% of the building to be licensed to sell the alcohol that makes up 45% or so, of the income the place is supposed to make! It doesn't matter whether or not the bar needs a subsidy when 100% of the building it's in has been built with 'state' funds.

 

Please can you clarify what you mean?

 

Where does it say that alcohol will be 45% of Mareel's revenue???!!!

 

It has been stated before elsewhere but today's Shetland Times quotes 44% for cafe-bar sales. OK. I accept that's not all alcohol, but it's not all tea and biscuits either!

[auldmidder]

Whit a bloody rip off! S.I.C in debt? Really? You wid never have guessed!

[Carlos]

The SIC are one of the very few councils in the UK that are not in debt.

They are overspending by their own financial plan though, and spending way way more that the annual rate support grant received from Hollyrood.

[just a number]

carlos wrote [They are overspending by their own financial plan though, and spending way way more that the annual rate support grant received from Hollyrood.]

 

In other words living beyond there means, if the average person lives like that in the end it bites them in the a***

[Guest Anonymous]

There are many ongoing issues to keep elected members busy, how can we ever hope for swift economical decision making when some of them cant grasp the simple notion of finishing one task and moving on.

 

If an old ass**le like me can deal with the fact that Mareel is happening, accept it, and move on, to the stage of supporting it. Then surely the councillors who were against it can have the same humility, and accept the inevitable.

It's happening.

We should all now support it.

It's a unique opportunity to promote the music of Shetland, provide facilities for the Shetland youth to express their creative nature, and for once a chance to prove that the SIC may have made a correct decision.

 

Mareel Is Happening, Support It !!

[Carlos]

carlos wrote [They are overspending by their own financial plan though, and spending way way more that the annual rate support grant received from Hollyrood.]

 

In other words living beyond there means, if the average person lives like that in the end it bites them in the a***

It depends what you mean.

~ Are they spending more of the savings than they receive in interest at the moment? Yes.

~ Are they living off credit they cannot afford? No.

 

In some ways that is what makes it difficult.

In other local authorities you cannot build capital projects without convincing somebody to loan you the cash up front.

Here you can - Double edged sword.

 

However, if the councillors decided to take all the oil reserves to Las Vegas, put it on red 27, and lost..... we would not be worse off than the other 99% of local authorities...... just a lot worse off than we are now.

[sheepshagger]

10 grand being payed out to some english wife and some yank hardly supporting Shetlands arts are we

[auldmidder]

If I'm not mistaken, I recall some article in the paper not too long ago, plebbing about the S.I.C. in a turd load of debt. I can't remember what it was...actually, I didn't read it as the whole subject really boils my piss. They're not exactly spending wisely, but that's ok, it's nothing a huge pointless, expensive music venue won't solve.

Shetland has loads of great places to play. Which have been around for years. Why do we 'need' a bigger, 'better' venue? Is that really going to make more amazing musicians?... Err, no!

I'm totally amazed that no-one stood up for Flea. Out of the whole lot, he was the only person who gave a turd over the so-called budget and Mareel could wait until the figures looked a bit better in the future. I bet if it was the councillors personal money, and they were financially embarrassed, the last thing they would do is build what they don't need.

[WiiMan]

If an old ass**le like me can deal with the fact that Mareel is happening, accept it, and move on, to the stage of supporting it. Then surely the councillors who were against it can have the same humility, and accept the inevitable.

It's happening.

We should all now support it.

It's a unique opportunity to promote the music of Shetland, provide facilities for the Shetland youth to express their creative nature, and for once a chance to prove that the SIC may have made a correct decision.

 

Mareel Is Happening, Support It !!

 

Its aa very weel saying dat Auld Een but the reality is that every last wan o wiz could support Mareel an it still winna work unless we fin anidder 100,000 folk tae come an bide here! It's a big city model for a peerie toon an it has a very dodgy business plan.