Brighton & Hove city council  have made a short term bridging loan to Pride in Brighton and Hove for £20,000 to help meet their potential budget deficit following last years event.  

A Pride insider confirmed to Gscene that Pride in Brighton and Hove had formally applied to the council for a six figure grant in excess of £150,000 under an arts and culture bid, but in the present financial climate the council could not accommodate their request, a short term loan was agreed instead.

On-going fund raising efforts have netted Pride over £14,000, while cost-cutting measures have saved around £11,000.

Commenting, acting Pride Chair Robert Clothier said:
“With our financial position secured, any uncertainty about this year’s Pride that there may have been is now over. We are committed to working with our new production company, Fisher Ltd, all our other contractors, local LGBT businesses and community groups to make this year’s Pride festival is better than ever before. We have exciting plans for the Pride Parade and the main park event on Saturday August 7, which will be announced very shortly.”

A Council spokesperson said:
“This short term bridging loan is to support the restructure of the Pride event as they deliver their 18th Pride in 2010.”

Paul Elgood the leader of the Lib Dems said:
“I was grateful to the Leader of the Council who consulted me on this decision and I was happy to support a bridging loan as a way forward. There is no question that this year's Pride event must go ahead and build on previous success. All public funds have to be used appropriately and this will now allow for additional monitoring of the event. However Pride must ensure that there is a complete buy-in to the event from all sections of the community."

Leader of the Labour Group Cllr Gill Mitchell said:
“I’m sure I will be enjoying Pride’s 18th Birthday along with thousands of other people that value the opportunity to celebrate diversity and fairness in our wonderfully colourful City.”

It is not clear if the Pride staff remain on part time working.