Guaranteeing: the new way of subsidising.

The Orchestra of the East is allowed half a million in red. That is the outcome of the 'Urban Commission' in Enschede. In a fortnight, the city council will formally take the decision, but with the commitment of a large majority, any debate will be wasted time then and the proposal would be better added to the list of hammer pieces immediately.

It could have been done a month ago, but the city council was not satisfied then with the plans of alderman Jeroen Hatenboer (VVD). His proposal and explanation rattled on all sides. The fact that he threatened to tell the orchestra that the water was running out only made matters worse. No wonder.

Water on the lips

Core of the problem is that for the orchestra, which Hatenboer called inancially very healthy less than a year ago, each quarter is two weeks too long. It can no longer pay all the bills. That phenomenon, that every month takes just a little too long, is recognised by everyone who works in the cultural sector. And that certainly applies to orchestra members, who all have to hand in at least 30% of their contract and salary - even that helps Maestro not at.

The orchestra needs acute credit extension and the banks are not eager. Understandable, as the orchestra was already technically bankruptcyt. With the Enschede municipality willing to guarantee half a million, the orchestra can borrow money temporarily, pay the bills and more or less continue functioning.

Anxiously awaiting what the Culture Council thinks of the new policy plan.

So why was Enschede so difficult last month over what now appears to be a formality?

The province of Overijssel had already promised to make money available again. The structural subsidy that had just been bought off with Harm Mannak and the orchestra's plans will be provided again. The province made that pledge painfully, trusting that Enschede would also be a guarantor, as the alderman assured.

Only: he made that commitment in Zwolle before that guarantee had been discussed in the Enschede council. We call something like that a political blunder. Especially because such a guarantee is sensitive in Enschede. Not only because of the millions for FC Twente, but precisely because Alderman Hatenboer was previously in the now illustrious bike loft loan (which ultimately did not materialise) also reported all kinds of things full of bravado, but later had to reluctantly backtrack.

Orchestra now saved for good?

No, the Culture Council is yet to come up with an opinion on the orchestra's new plan. And Enschede's councillors have once again forced Alderman Hatenboer to make commitments that he finds difficult to keep. Why is he doing so? Because investments need to be secured in bricks with a flaw, which are still owned by the municipality.

More on that, and on Hatenboer's remarkable attempt to rehabilitate business mogul Harm Mannak, on Thursday.