RED TAPE SILENCES INSTRUMENTAL BAND'S OPEN AIR PERFORMANCES
"RED-TAPE" and paper-work has put the wind up Forfar Instrumental Band's open-air performances in the Reid Park and Kirriemuir Den.
Members held their annual general meeting last Tuesday evening and were informed Angus Council had withdrawn financial support for its appearances in the Reid Park and Kirriemuir Den - a feature of the summer calendar for the last few years.
Arrangements were made to continue this in 2009 but the administrative work involved was out of proportion to the benefit to the band.
The band had to enter into a contract with the council for the use of the "whole of the park", carry out a risk assessment and carry a 5-million Public Liability Insurance.
A spokesman for the band said: "Actually, all the band wanted to do was sit in the bandstand and play for an hour and not worry about somebody walking their dog, tripping in a hole in the pathways and claiming off the band's insurance.
"While a grant was obtained, through applying to a different department of the council, there is no certainty that a similar grant would be forthcoming in future years and the preparation of the application took up a fair amount of the secretary's and treasurer's time.
"It was therefore decided the band would not play in the Reid Park or Kirrie Den this year unless engaged by some other organisation which would make all the necessary formal arrangements and pay the band a reasonable fee or donation for their services.
"The band will instead be looking for other venues and engagements in the local area in future."
Any interested parties are invited to contact the Secretary, J Bruce Dorward, 27 John Street, Forfar, phone 468876.
During the meeting chairman Richard Baer referred to the band's continuing service to the community in public performances, which ranged from the Armistice Service, through Christmas tree lighting and church services to summer entertainment in Forfar, Kirriemuir and occasionally Dundee.
Last year's summer programme was spoiled by the weather and, on one occasion, by a shortage of players due to holidays and other commitments.
It was noted a Junior Band had been formed but some of the original members had dropped out. This was attributed to the lack of tuition in the local schools resulting in loss of interest by some of the marginal players whose interest might otherwise have been sustained.
Those remaining have progressed to a stage where they can sit in with the main band for part of the Tuesday rehearsal and they were able to play at some of the Christmas engagements.
Several of the juniors went along to hear the concert given by the Reserve Section of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland in which two of the Forfar band's members were playing.
A third member was playing in the senior band later in the day. Their fees were paid by the band thanks to the support of the public in various fund-raising activities.
It is hoped some of the band's juniors will try for a place in the NYBBS Training Band at St Andrews this summer.
When asked to comment on the withdrawal of funding, a spokesperson for Angus Council said: "We contacted the band a year ago explaining that as part of our overall budget review we were unable to continue to support the band's costs of staging performances in our public parks.
"However, we did suggest other areas the band could explore to obtain funding for performances.
"All organisations using our parks need to complete an events pack. A band performance, like all other public events in the park, has to have a risk assessment covering such items as the setting up of equipment and access requirements, as well as the necessary public liability insurance."
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Weather for Kirriemuir
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 0 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
