Theatre boss at centre of accounts claim
A furious war of words has broken out over the accounts for Lincoln's Theatre Royal.
Director Chris Moreno accused City Hall chiefs of misleading the public after they said £1.5m of taxpayers' cash had been handed over in the last 10 years without him submitting full accounts.
In the fall-out from City Hall's decision to stop funding the theatre, senior Tory councillor Hilton Spratt said no information had been offered on what public money was being used for.
But, in a strongly-worded statement, Mr Moreno said the remarks were "erroneous, uninformed and totally misleading".
"The sadness is this council seems to manipulate the facts in order to cover up its shortcomings and inadequacies in running the city," he said.
"As far as I'm concerned, the theatre will close at the end of March, the fairness of which is clearly at the doors of this miserable authority."
Mr Moreno said the accounts had been presented to the council each year since subsidies began 10 years ago.
But this version of events was contradicted by both Coun Spratt and Labour councillor Ric Metcalfe, who ran City Hall for most of the years the subsidy was in place.
Coun Spratt said: "As far as I know, we have not really received any business plans for the Theatre Royal.
"No accounts. We've had absolutely nothing as I understand it, although I have only been in post since May.
"We haven't received accounts or projections or anything."
For more on the row, see Tuesday's Echo.
26 Comments
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by Jerry Attrick, UK
Thursday, October 23 2008, 3:51PM
“Are you sure you haven't put an extra letter by mistake at the front of Hilton's surname, shouldn't it be pratt.”
by Jerry Attrick, UK
Thursday, October 23 2008, 3:49PM
“You only have to see how poorly the City is run by the present administration, to realise that the Theatre are more than likely correct. This City shower couldn't run a booze up in a brewery.”
by Nik Briggs, Lincoln
Monday, October 13 2008, 2:55PM
“Anyone who likes Hilton Spratt must be in his pocket or his bed.”
by Steve, Lincoln
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 9:45PM
“Why is it, that every time there is any sort of debate on these forums we get some guy from Henley-upon-Thames insulting everyone and anyone that has a difference of political opinion to himself.
You now live 150 miles away, so keep your political cheap shots to yourself.”
by Bored with this now, Lincolnshire
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 7:19PM
“If the Theatre Royal actually put on some decent shows rather that the D list "celebs" they usually have, people from the county would be more likely to be supportive. Where has the taxpayers money gone? It certainly hasnt been spent on getting in decent entertainment.”
by young person in linconia, lincoln
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 6:05PM
“Three words people;
THEATRE OF DREAMS!!!”
by toldyouso, Lincoln
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 4:35PM
“As I recall didn't dear old Lord Archer serve most of his sentence under the pretence of 'working' at Lincoln Theatre Royal for Mr Moreno. Of course we all know perfectly well that he was dining out in the city daily whilst pretending to write a play about the homeless, but all of this was going on under our noses whilst jolly old Mr Moreno provided the crooked peer with a sinecure which only came to an end when he was caught coiffing champagne with his missus!
The fact that Mr Moreno no longer needs the hassle of running a subsidised theatre may have a lot more to do with his 'friends in high places' who would certainly know all about dodgy accounts!”
by Chris Patty, Eagle
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 2:28PM
“seems odd to me that the council give money then claim it back in council tax - surely if they waived that bill it would be a considerable gesture and might help to save the venue, which is so loved by the county.”
by NitPicker, Lincoln
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 2:10PM
“Cameron, let's just say the previous council looked the other way fairly often where the theatre was concerned.”
by cameron love, Lincoln
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 1:37PM
“Although I am pleased that the money is being stopped. And that with the Drill Hall and Engine Shed and other places we have more than enough placed available to host events. I do have to say I am bewildered a councillor can try and blame the owner for a lack of accounts as to why they are halting it.
I must be missing the point here but I find it shocking that public money could possibly have been paid out in large quantities for 10 YEARS without a single piece of information about where it was being spent. Whether the Theatre owners are right or wrong with what they say, the admission by the council that they threw money over money over money at a project without once seeing a business plan or accounts to see how that money was being spent is disgusting!!!
For all we know (and I am not saying this actually happened) for the past 10 years we could have been paying for £1.5 million of Caviar for the directors box!”