Agenda item

This report seeks a determination of three applications made by Festival Republic Ltd to hire Finsbury Park in order to stage (1) Steel Yard, a 2 day event in May 2019, (2) a multi-event weekend to include the Community Festival over 3 days in June 2019 and (3) the Wireless Festival, a 3 day event proposed for July 2019.

The applications are required to be determined pursuant to the Council’s Outdoor Events Policy (the Policy), which was approved by Cabinet on 17^th December 2013, and implemented on 7^th January 2014.

Approval was sought by Festival Republic Ltd to hire Finsbury Park in order to stage:

1. Steel Yard, a 2 day event in May 2019;
2. A multi-event weekend to include the Community Festival over 3 days in June 2019; and
3. The Wireless Festival, a 3 day event proposed for July 2019.

Cabinet Member approval was required because of the length of the proposed hire agreement, as per the Council’s Outdoor Events Policy.

Officers took the Cabinet Member through the report. Following which, the Cabinet Member asked questions and it was noted that:

• There was scheduled to be two concert days in May, one day for a community concert in June, three days for Wireless Festival in July, and two days in September for smaller scale concerts. This would be a decrease in the number of events from the previous year.
• Officers explained that the reason why Festival Republic decreased the number of days for their community weekend in June from three days to one day was because they could not find enough acts in time.
• For the previous two years, Festival Republic had trialled a two day event in June but would not be holding that event in 2019 as the event had not been financially viable for them.
• The Cabinet Member had concerns about the mess caused by the concert events, especially Wireless Festival. The Cabinet Member also had concerns regarding the provision of toilets and noted a number of Stroud Green traders had complained about people urinating after events.
• Officers acknowledged the Stroud Green traders had raised concerns and stated they would be further responded to.
• Officers were satisfied that there would be enough toilets provided and highlighted the ‘toilet city’, which was a number of toilets that festivalgoers would pass through as they exited the Wireless Festival. Hackney Council had informed Haringey Council that they did not want toilets placed on their side streets and it was not strategically possible to place those toilets elsewhere without blocking egress routes. There would be greater promotion of the ‘toilet city’ at the Wireless Festival event to remind festivalgoers that this was their last chance to use the toilet.
• Officers would look at the possibility of placing toilets near Stroud Green.
• Officers noted an Economic Impact Assessment had taken place which showed businesses in the area, especially licensed premises, benefitted greatly from the hosting of events in Finsbury Park. The assessment had also taken into account businesses in Stroud Green.

The Cabinet Member highlighted her concerns regarding the public nuisance issues that had been raised and sought a commitment to improve the impact on residents during events taking place at Finsbury Park. Officers confirmed they would raise the issues above with Festival Republic.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member for Environment:

a)    Considered, and took account of, the comments received from recognised stakeholders of Finsbury Park in response to the event notifications being sent as part of the decision making process (attached as Appendix 2).

b)    Authorised the Director – Environment and Neighbourhoods, to approve conditional in principle agreement to hire Finsbury Park to the event promoter for the events detailed in this report as set out in paragraph 6.4.

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 lengthy discussions with relevant authorities, including licensing 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). 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 major events 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.