Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence. 

There were no declarations of interest. 

This report sought a determination of two applications made by Manning’s Amusements Limited to hire (1) Finsbury Park between 31 March and 16 April 2023 and (2) Ducketts Common between 23 June and 02 July 2023, for funfair events.

The applications are required to be determined pursuant to the Council’s Outdoor Events Policy (the Policy), which was approved by Cabinet on 17 December 2013, and implemented on 07 January 2014.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED

1. That the comment received from a recognised stakeholder of Finsbury Park in response to the event notification being sent as part of the decision-making process (attached as Appendix 2 to the report) be taken account of.

2. To authorise the Director of Environment and Resident Experience, to approve conditional in-principle agreement to hire Finsbury Park and Ducketts Common to Manning’s Amusements Limited for the events detailed in this report as set out in paragraph 6.5, subject to:

a. the events being permissible under any then prevailing government legislation and guidance in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic, and

b. with the agreement of the Council’s (interim) Director of Public Health.

3. To authorise the Director of Environment and Resident Experience to enter into agreements and or to grant permissions to hire Finsbury Park and Ducketts Common to the funfair operator (for the events detailed in this report as set out in paragraph 6.5) provided that the Director of Environment and Resident Experience is satisfied with the terms of any proposed agreements and permissions.

Reasons for decision

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

If authority was given, then officers would give in-principle agreement to the Applicant for the event applications to progress. The events would then be subject to discussions between the Applicant and the Council before final agreement was given.

The rejection of the applications would have implications for the Parks & Leisure Service budget and reduce the opportunity for reinvestment into Finsbury Park and Ducketts Common. 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 parks for a limited number of funfairs and circuses each year. Accordingly, the only other alternative option which could be considered would be to reject the applications. 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.

Item 5 is likely to be subject to a motion to exclude the press and public from the meeting as it contains exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by Section 12A of the Local Government Act 1985); paragraph 3, Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED to exclude the press and public for the consideration of agenda item 5 as it contains exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by Section 12A of the Local Government Act 1985); paragraph 3, Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

The exempt information was noted.