SCOTLAND'S largest multi-cultural festival was cancelled after a "chaotic" meltdown amid accusations of document forging, boardroom quarrels and clashes over cash-in-hand payments of £6,000 a week for one of its biggest shows, a tribunal has heard.
The true scale of the turmoil which blighted Edinburgh Mela in 2016 and led to £600,000 of funding being withdrawn has been laid bare at the employment tribunal of former director Chris Purnell, who quit his post and is claiming for constructive unfair dismissal.
The Mela is a vibrant world music and dance festival which traditionally attracts more than 25,000 people to Leith Links at the end of August. Despite being abandoned at the eleventh hour in 2016 it returned the following year for another successful run.
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The tribunal heard how one of the key witnesses was Edinburgh City Council leader Adam McVey who described the behaviour or some of the board members as "appalling" – with meetings that would descend into "shouting outbursts that just went on and on".
Cllr McVey said he was also concerned about accusations festival vice-chairman Foysol Choudhury had forged a nomination form and branded the organisation "chaotic".
Former Mela general manger Breige Swift told how the organisation was “unravelling” amid the tensions between Edinburgh Mela top bosses Chris Purnell, Foysol Choudhury and chairman Shami Khan.
The tribunal heard that amateur artists involved in its Bollywood in Love production were paid £28 a day which amounted to about £6,000 a week
But Ms Swift defended the cash payments - known as per diems - insisting it was normal practice and stressing they were recorded for book-keeping purposes.
Read more: New movie starring Kelly Macdonald to open Edinburgh International Film Festival
The tribunal heard Shami Khan would provide the administration office with blank cheques to cover petty cash expenses.
His representative Myles Ridgeway said: “Mr Khan feels this is a simple way to give people money in a cash-in-hand form.”
Mr Purnell quit his post in March 2016 after relationships within the organisation soured.
When Mr Purnell left the Mela, which has a board membership made up of individuals nominated by community groups and charities, he cited “breakdown of trust” between staff and board members.
The festival was cancelled that year after funding from backers including Edinburgh City Council and Creative Scotland was withdrawn.
The breakdown of relationships coincided with Mr Purnell’s move along with others on the board and in the charity to update their governance including introducing a system of rotating board members so no individuals would maintain long term control.
Read more: New movie starring Kelly Macdonald to open Edinburgh International Film Festival
It was claimed funders including Edinburgh City Council were concerned over the charity’s governance and ultimately the festival was cancelled when the funding was held back.
The tribunal heard that Mr Purnell had used petty cash to hire a car for personal reasons but had told Ms Swift and the company book-keeper, and he had sent a cheque for the amount which was under £100 two months after he resigned.
There was also an apparent lack of clarity over who held the purse strings.
The tribunal continues.
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