Agenda item

Application by Assembled GALA Ltd to hire a small space within Finsbury Park to host a performance led pop-up venue

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member considered the report which sought a determination of an application made by Assembled GALA Ltd to hire Finsbury Park between May and September 2021 in order to host a performance-led pop-up venue.

 

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

 

It was noted that there would be high demand for people to attend outdoor events and that any performances would not be ticketed. The Cabinet Member asked how the proposals would be managed. The Events and Partnerships Manager explained that officers did not object to having a flexible, non-ticketed event. It was added that, specifics as to how this would be managed would be determined through the Premises Licence application. The Events and Partnerships Manager highlighted that people were permitted to bring alcohol into the park from any location, provided this did not constitute a nuisance. Therefore, it was not considered that the ability to sell alcohol for consumption on site or off site would have a detrimental effect within the park. It was also noted that drinks would be sold in refundable cups and customers would be able to exchange their empty cups for a deposit; it was hoped that this would reduce littering and enable the monitoring of any littering issues.

 

Following consideration of the exempt information,

 

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED

 

1.    To consider, and take 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 to the report).

 

2.    To authorise the Director – Environment & Neighbourhoods, to approve conditional in-principle agreement to hire Finsbury Park to the event promoter for the event and dates detailed in this report as set out in paragraph 6.4, BUT also (1) subject to the event being permissible under the then prevailing government legislation and guidance in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic, (2) with the agreement of the Council’s Interim Director of Public Health and (3) subject to the required permissions detailed at paragraphs 6.14 and 6.15 of the report being obtained.

 

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 application to progress. The event will then be subject to lengthy discussions with relevant authorities - including Licensing, Planning and Public Health - before final approval is given.

 

The rejection of the application would have implications for the Parks & Leisure 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 are lost.

 

Alternative options considered

 

In adopting the Policy, the Council established its commitment to using the Park to host events. 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 event does not fall within any of the grounds set out in paragraph 5.3 of the Policy for automatic refusal.

Supporting documents: