Audit Scotland - which exists to provide "independent assurance to the people of Scotland that public money is spent properly, efficiently and effectively" - will investigate the £150,000 'grant' the Scottish government gave to T In The Park promoter DF Concerts - a Live Nation subsidiary - to help cover the costs of relocating the music festival's new site at the Strathallan Estate earlier this year.
The auditing body told The Scotsman: "Audit Scotland's work helps ensure the public can have trust and confidence about how public money is used. Given the public interest and correspondence we've received on this matter, we've decided to review the funding provided to T In The Park as part of the 2015/16 audit of the Scottish Government's consolidated accounts".
Scotland's Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop is to appear before a committee of the Scottish Parliamentto justify a government grant of £150,000 given to music festival T In The Park. The funding was provided as the popular music event moved to a new home at Strathallan Castle. Opposition politicians have said that "serious questions" remain about the funding T received, with Labour MSP John Pentland telling the BBC: "We need some honesty from the SNP government about this £150,000 payment and the extent of the involvement of a former SNP adviser. At a time when the SNP government is slashing the budget for local services, people will find it difficult to understand how such a successful company needs an extra £150,000 from the taxpayer". A spokesperson for Hyslop says that the funding was justified, and in line with grants given to other major events in Scotland.
The owners of the Strathallan Estate have defended their decision to host T In The Park amidst criticism from some locals and two nature groups. The move is still being considered by Perth And Kinross Council after an initial consultation resulted in 523 submissions, with slightly more against than for the proposal. RSPB Scotland and the Woodland Trust Scotland, while not lodging formal objections, have raised concerns about an event the size of T In The Park coming to the Estate. But the co-owners of the site, Jamie and Debs Roberts, insist T coming to their property will be good for the local area and the local economy, and dispute some of the cobservations made by the RSPB andthe Woodland Trust. They told the BBC: "Our family has owned Strathallan Estate for more than a century and it is with a deep sense of heritage and responsibility that we steward the land and the buildings we are fortunate to be responsible for".
A second public consultation is being held to consider the festival taking place at Strathallan, with council officials seeking more information from DF about their plans.
