Floriana mayor Nigel Holland has said a police report was filed against an organiser commissioned to handle the outdoor celebrations on New Year’s Eve.

Mr Holland said the matter involved €1,000 that the council paid to Justin Attard, from Floriana, to organise the event.

“The event failed to materialise and he has to give the money back.”

New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Granaries were strongly advertised with such artists as Mikaela, Yorika, Raquela and Paul Borg Bonaci and comedy show Bla Kondixin. But the Floriana council said yesterday that “unfortunately”, on December 30, it was clear the contractor was “not in a position to fulfil his obligations”.

The council said it had to intervene and the event was organised within a few hours.

“One understands that, because it was set up in a few hours, there were some failings in the final product and the council apologises to those who attended,” it said.

It deplored the contractor’s “completely irresponsible attitude” and said it would be taking legal action.

The council did not mention Mr Attard in its statement but his name was in the minutes of an urgent meeting called on December 30.

During the meeting, attended by Mr Attard, the council had to decide whether the event should go ahead.

Mr Holland asked him whether he was able to make it. “It’s a small problem, which he believed could be solved in 30 minutes,” the minutes recorded Mr Attard as saying. He was asked to give a running order and list of contacts, which, the minutes reported, Mr Attard said he would send from home.

Mr Holland warned him that if the activity was not held this would have “great repercussions” because it was a national event where a “substantial amount of money” was spent in promotion.

“This meant that the council would be taking all the necessary legal action against Mr Attard.”

Mr Holland yesterday said the council had to take over: “Someone set up a stage and we put together the evening.”

He confirmed he called Mr Attard a “persona non grata” in Floriana.

“Irrespective of who he is, someone who hurts the community should be declared a persona non grata,” he said. A meeting was scheduled for next week between the council and Mr Attard to “try and reach an amicable agreement” over the breach of contract “before any legal action is taken,” Mr Holland said.

Mr Attard said when contacted that he was not aware of the matter and was “surprised” a police report had been filed but confirmed Monday’s meeting. He also said he would return the money.

“There were some last minute difficulties with the event. I had a disagreement with a supplier who imposed some new conditions that I couldn’t accept,” Mr Attard said.

The council had “issued a cheque which I paid with”. As “coordinator”, he “risked everything” but he passed on all contacts to the council once he “couldn’t go ahead with the event”.