Council u-turn after budget cuts drama leads to Eden Court cutting youth service
Highland Councillors are giving extra funding to Eden Court after the Inverness venue cut a youth service.
Public money's being used to save an educational course for young people which Eden Court had decided to drop.
Highland Council's paying out £11,500 so that the SQA National Five Drama course continues.
The venue in Inverness chose to scrap the course after councillors cut its funding by £100,000.
The decision prompted strong criticism from some councillors directed at Eden Court's management, which had requested to meet with the council to resolve the situation.
The dramatic u-turn came after negotiations between the two side.
Budget Leader Cllr Bill Fernie told MFR News: "Following negotiations with Eden Court, we feel that the course is important for some of our young people and we have agreed to fund the course for National 5 Drama."
Chair of the Council’s Education, Children and Adult Services Committee Cllr Drew Millar added: "We recognise that for those pupils wishing to follow careers in drama, this course is a stepping stone that may lead to further opportunities in colleges and universities. For that reason we are supporting this for the 2016/17 year."