Centre in the Square and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony are in a state of “conflict and paralysis” and may have to bring in outside help to resolve their issues, according to a consultant’s report.

The 90-page report from Webb Management Services was made public Friday.

It was requested earlier this year by city councillors after the two sides appeared to be at an impasse over scheduling issues.

Last fall, Centre in the Square management proposed having greater control over its calendar as one method to help alleviate its financial issues – a suggestion which symphony officials said would be “devastating” to their organization.

Both organizations are experiencing financial trouble, with Centre in the Square posting a $1.5-million deficit in 2013 and the symphony losing more than $190,000 in the same year.

In the venue’s case, the consultant found that it could likely improve its financial standing with some tweaks to scheduling and ticket pricing, as well as more partnerships.

As for the symphony, the report suggests a return to profitability will be difficult without first repairing its relationship with the region’s premier music venue.

“Current conflict and unresolved issues with CITS are a major barrier to attracting additional contributed income, and to stabilizing long term operations,” it reads.

To get past those issues, the consultants suggested bringing leaders from both organizations together to figure out how to “resolve difference and lingering tensions” between the two sides.

“A professional mediator may be required,” the report reads.

Also suggested in the report is a full examination of Centre in the Square’s mission, purpose and governance model.

The result of that review could be anything from minor changes to how the venue operates to turning it into an independent, private or fully city-run facility.

Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr, who sits on the CITS board, told CTV News he doesn’t see any “surprises” in the report, but doesn’t expect the end result to be a privately-run venue.

“The Centre in the Square, in my opinion, will never operate without a subsidy from the cities and the taxpayer,” he said.

The chairs of each organization’s board of directors said they agree that a more open relationship is necessary.

“The report is the result of a long process during which CITS and KWS have had the opportunity to work closely together and it’s been a pleasure to work with KWS,” CITS board chair Marcus Shantz wrote in an email.

Catherine Copp, the chair of the symphony’s board, said both sides need to realize that the business realities of running any sort of arts organization have changed, but any solutions need to be well thought-out.

“We want to be very careful that we don’t do something that is going to make it difficult for our audience to continue to come to the symphony,” she said.

Zehr said solutions to the dispute shouldn’t be expected to arrive quickly, partially because some contracts involving the organizations have multiple years remaining.

City council will debate the issue next week, with staff recommending that the city select a facilitator to lead the discussions between all three parties and begin reviewing Centre in the Square’s operations, including potential renovations to the building itself.