Vöcklabruck rebuilds leisure company after financial problems

Vöcklabruck has reorganised the company that operates its indoor swimming pool, stadium and events hall after financial problems at its predecessor, ORF reported. The former Culture and Leisure GmbH, known as KUF, made headlines after the city had to step in to pay outstanding bills.

The new City and Culture Vöcklabruck GmbH was established about two years ago. Daniel Leitner has led the company since the restructuring and said its internal procedures had improved significantly.

Under the former company, there had been no two-person approval system, few synergies and insufficient digitalisation. “All the different papers first had to be sorted and digitised,” Leitner said. One of the shortcomings had been the lack of a file system in which documents were carefully stored over the years.

Leitner said the company was now operating stably and staying within its budget. Attendance at the indoor swimming pool had increased, while the events hall was also hosting more events.

Vöcklabruck Mayor Peter Schobesberger of the Social Democratic Party said the company was now “extremely well positioned” under its new managing director. He said money was even left over for necessary investments.

However, several political groups continue to call for an investigation into the former company’s finances. The city has said that its financial management had completely lost control. Schobesberger said last year that the city had needed to provide about 400,000 euros.

The Greens, Freedom Party and NEOS also see the former city leadership as responsible. Green parliamentary group leader Stefan Hindinger said the mayors in office at the time were responsible because they had accepted the system.

The Vöcklabruck Freedom Party said in response to an ORF inquiry: “What is supposed to remain hidden here?” It called for a clear account of what had gone wrong at KUF. NEOS also wants an investigation, but said it would first wait for the Federal Court of Audit’s report, which is expected by the end of the year.

Schobesberger said the matter had already been addressed in many city council meetings and that the Court of Audit’s review was also under way. He said it was better to focus on the future rather than the past.

The new company is also subject to different oversight. It no longer has a supervisory board. Instead, Leitner reports to the city council four times a year on the company’s performance.

The Greens, Freedom Party and Austrian People’s Party say that is not enough and are calling for a supervisory board to be reinstated. The People’s Party says it should be organised in a way that is as politically independent as possible.