South Ayrshire bosses want up to £590k more for airshow after massive overspend
Officials have asked for up to an extra £590,000 to put on this year's International Ayr Show after revealing a massive shortfall in its budget for last year's event.
And one of the factors that may make a difference, according to Director of Communities and Transformation, Jane Bradley, is the weather.
In a report to be heard at the final full South Ayrshire Council meeting before the summer, councillors will be told that last year's two-day spectacular cost £1.185 million to stage after supplier prices, a larger site and new safety charges which drove costs higher than first predicted.
Although sponsorship, stall fees and a £200,000 grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund helped, the 2024 show still finished £243,000 over its allocated budget.
Finance staff later shaved that overspend down to £227,000 through year-end adjustments.
An economic impact study put visitor spend at £7.9 million, up £700,000 on 2023, suggesting the event continues to attract crowds and cash into the town.
For the 2025 show the core budget and external grant currently total £595,000.
If costs mirror last year's £1.185m bill, finance chiefs say they will need authority to draw the difference—a maximum of £590,000—from reserves.
Officers insist that the amount they do take from the reserves 'is fully expected to be significantly less' once new sponsorship deals and on-the-day income are counted.
The report also points out that there is no certainty around the significant sum received from the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund.
To illustrate the volatility, the report notes that if sponsors invest the same as they did in 2023 (£256k) they would require around £334,000, while hitting last year's £347k would be about £256,000 from reserves.
Ms Bradley adds in her report: 'Given that the level of income can fluctuate, as evidenced by the differences between the income generated in 2023 and that generated in 2024, and that any income generated on the day will be heavily impacted and influenced by the weather, it is considered prudent to de-risk this element of the event by providing a commitment from reserves that excludes the netting off of income generated.'
Councillors will consider the report on Thursday, June 26.
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