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 ÂŁ11,500 so that the SQA National Five Drama course continues.
The venue in Inverness chose to scrap the course after councillors cut its funding by ÂŁ100,000.
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."