AN “UNEXPECTED” funding surplus will be used by Ceredigion County Council to set up a special fund to pay toward the cost of hosting the 2020 National Eisteddfod.
While a decision on which location is the preferred option to host the event is expected by the end of March, council leader Ellen ap Gwynn said the county council was already working to ensure it had the funding it needed to be able to support the eisteddfod with an unexpected underspend on the council’s 2017/18 budget meaning that money could be moved into a special fund.
As well as providing funding itself, the council will also look to attract grants and sponsors to provide money for the eisteddfod.
A report that went before the council’s Cabinet said: “There will be direct cost implications for the council to support the hosting of the eisteddfod in Ceredigion.
“These funds will cover all aspects of staging the relevant events and the preparation in the run up to and during the 2020 National Eisteddfod.
“The activity being proposed in this paper should be considered as an investment in marketing and promoting our county and council, and by working closely with the regeneration service area, we will endorse the tourism potential of the area and the benefits to the rural economic community and local businesses. An overall indicative sum of £200,000 is suggested to be earmarked.”
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