CONCERN over the cost of bringing The Brunton in Musselburgh back into use saw a call for community-funded grants to be suspended across the county at a meeting today (Tuesday).

The theatre is a Common Good asset but was closed after the presence of crumbling reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was discovered in part of the building last year.

The cost of work required at the building is still unknown and a report is due to come before East Lothian Council in the summer.

READ MORE: The Brunton to remain closed for ‘considerable' time

At a meeting of the council today, elected members were asked to approve the annual budget for each of its four Common Good Funds, which were reported to have a surplus, to allow them to distribute funds to local groups and projects.

However, Councillor Lachlan Bruce called on fellow members to defer the decision and suspend any grants until the cost of The Brunton repairs was known.

The meeting heard that, as a Common Good asset, the cost of repairs would be expected to come from the Musselburgh Common Good Fund.

Members were told that the costing for the work had been delayed by additional complications discovered in the roof, with a report likely to come to council in the next few months.

Mr Bruce questioned whether claims that the funds were in surplus could be guaranteed given they were based on a review of assets five years ago.

He said: “We have no evidence to suggest the Common Good Funds are in surplus and have funds available to disperse.

"I worry we would be failing in our role as councillors if we allowed money to be spent without determining there is a surplus.”

'Wouldn't pay for four roof tiles'

Councillors heard that the four funds, which are established for Musselburgh, Dunbar, Haddington and North Berwick, had a total balance of just under £8.5 million, with more than £7.1 million in the Musselburgh fund.

The funding that councillors were asked to approve for each pot was £4,000 from Dunbar, £10,000 from Haddington,  £10,000 from North Berwick and £150,000 from Musselburgh.

Councillor John McMillan, Provost of East Lothian, told the meeting that he could not support Mr Bruce’s call to defer allowing grants because he saw the benefits that the money brought to communities.

And Councillor Andy Forrest, Musselburgh ward member, dismissed the call, telling the meeting that the grant budget for Musselburgh “wouldn’t pay for four roof tiles on The Brunton".

Common Good Fund grants are overseen by local ward councillors.

Councillor Lyn Jardine, Dunbar and East Linton ward, questioned why all areas should be stopped from awarding grants when it would only be the Musselburgh fund which would be affected by The Brunton costs.

She said: “I appreciate where Councillor Bruce is coming from but, given there are a number of funds, it should be incumbent on the councillors involved to make the strategic decisions.”

Mr Bruce withdrew his motion for a deferral of a decision over the budget, which was approved by 15 votes to four.