COUNCIL chiefs are ready to step in to save both Inverclyde Leisure and the Beacon during the coronavirus outbreak.

Both face uncertain times as a result of the shutdown ordered by the Prime Minister and now Municipal Buuldings bosses are putting an action plan in place to keep them afloat.

Inverclyde Leisure runs sports centres, football pitches, swimming pools and community halls across Inverclyde.

The shutdown looks like costing them £1.5 million at least.

At the same time the Beacon Arts Centre, which has faced financial troubles over the years, already relies hugely on council subsidies to keep the doors open and now it has no day-to-day income.

Councillor McCabe added: "These are arms length organisations from the council but we can't afford to let them go under.

"We will need to step in to support them."

Both Inverclyde Leisure and the Beacon were included in an emergency report put together by finance bosses on how to manage the pandemic impact.

The document reveals that with cancelled direct debits IL will lose £150,000 a month, with other costs on top of that.

Inverclyde Leisure takes in 75 per cent of its income from fees and charges.

Council chief financial officer Alan Puckrin says it is unclear what other financial support may be available to the leisure trust.

The theatre meanwhile may be able to get backing from national agency Creative Scotland.

Councillors have sanctioned an initial £4m local fund to mitigate coronavirus, as revealed in Friday's Tele.

Regarding the wider financial burdens facing the local authority itself, Councillor McCabe added: "We are expecting support from the Scottish Government but in the meantime we need to make sure there is money in the bank to help."

 

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