Taxpayers pay £120k to cover Battle debts

The backlogged funds are additional to the £158,750 given for this year's event

A total of £121,000 of taxpayers' money has been used to pay people owed money from last year's Battle of Flowers.

The Chief Minister and Economic Development Minister said the decision to settle debts from last year's event, which saw an overspend of more than £150,000, was made because of the benefits to the community and the visitor economy.

In a letter to the Chief Officer of the Department of the Economy Richard Corrigan, Deputy Lyndon Farnham and Deputy Kirsten Morel said the decision would allow groups to put on this year's scaled-down parade and future events.

The backlogged funds are additional to the £158,750 given to help fund the rerouted event set to begin on Friday.

In the letter, the ministers said the main sum would be taken off future grants for the event.

"It is unfortunate that, despite the efforts of the new organisers and the grant funding already provided by the Department for the Economy, the success of the event should be imperilled due to ongoing challenges in resolving the 2024 overspend," they said.

"Having therefore considered the balance of risks and the great benefit that Battle brings to our community and visitor economy, it is our judgement that a grant to the Battle of Flowers Events Limited to contribute towards the settling of its outstanding debt is necessary in order to enable a Battle of Flowers Parade in 2025 and beyond."

The money has come from the Chief Minister's Pilot Fund.

The £90,000 top-up grant, which was also given out in 2024, will not be recovered, the ministers added.