An emergency fund to help local galas pay for this year's events is set to be launched as Midlothian Council looks to increase licence costs by up to 100 per cent.
Councillors will be asked to approve a wide range of increased charges put forward by officers next week as they look at ways to avoid cutting services.
However a decision to increase public entertainment licences by between 50 per cent to 100 per cent, depending on the number of people taking part, has sparked concerns it could put galas at risk.