Issue - meetings

Report of the Assistant Director, Commercial and Operations, seeking determination of two applications made by Manning’s Amusements Ltd (1) to hire Finsbury Park over 17 days in April 2017 in order to stage an Easter funfair, and (2) a 9 day funfair over the summer half term in June 2017.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered the report which sought determination of two applications made by Manning’s Amusements Ltd to hire Finsbury Park over 17 days in April 2017 in order to stage an Easter funfair and a 9 day funfair over the summer half term in June 2017.

The Cabinet Member noted that, if the applications were granted, this would be the 43^rd successive year that Manning’s has operated in the Park.

RESOLVED

i)             That the Cabinet Member for Environment note that no comments were received from recognised stakeholders of Finsbury Park in response to the event notifications being sent as part of the decision making process.

ii)            That the Cabinet Member for Environment authorise the Assistant Director – Commercial and Operations, to approve conditional in principle agreement to hire Finsbury Park to the event promoters for the events detailed in the report as set out in paragraph 6.4.

iii)           That the Cabinet Member for Environment agree that the conditions which are to be attached to any final approval of authority are as set out in the comments of the Assistant Director, Corporate Governance at paragraph 8.2.7 of the report.

Reasons for decision

Under the terms of the Policy, applications of the type detailed in this report are required to be determined with the prior agreement of the Cabinet Member.

If authority is given, then officers will give in principle agreement to the applicant for the event applications to progress. The events will then be subject to discussions with relevant authorities before final agreement is given.

The rejection of the applications would have implications for the Parks Service budget and reduce the opportunity for reinvestment into Finsbury Park (the Park) and other parks. It would also mean that the wider cultural and economic benefits to the borough were lost.

Alternative options considered

In adopting the Policy, the Council established its commitment to using the Park for a limited number of fairs each year. Accordingly, the only other alternative option which could be considered would be to reject the application. That option was rejected, on the grounds that the events did not fall within any of the grounds set out in paragraph 5.3 of the Policy for automatic refusal.