Agenda item

This report sought a determination of a number of applications made by Festival Republic Ltd (the Applicant) to hire Finsbury Park for a period in June/July every year between 2023 and 2027, in order to stage two consecutive three-day multi-event weekends.

The applications were 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 7 January 2014.

The Leader of the Council  noted that Councillor George Dunstall  had contacted Democratic Services  prior  to the signing to  ask to place on record his objection to the duration of the contract hire of Finsbury Park for five years.

Councillor Alexandra Worrell had made representations during the consultation period.

The Leader of the Council had asked for the Contract hire agreement to include an annual performance review and this would be  included. 

The  Leaderof the Council  had asked for  the annual performance review to include engagement with: ward councillors of Stroud Green and Harringay wards, local stakeholders, including the Friends of Finsbury Park. Legal advisors were content with these caveats and the monitoring arrangements for the contract which  was in keeping with the Council’s general expectations. 

The annual engagement process would be developed  and as part of the performance review there would be a re-write of the terms of reference for the Finsbury Park Events Stakeholder Group . There would be a  schedule setting out when the meetings would take place, both with the Stakeholder Group but also with ward members.

Further to considering the exempt information,

The Leader of the Council 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 of the report).

2. Pursuant  to Contract  Standing  Order  16.02, to authorise  the  Director of Environment and Resident Experience to (1) approve conditional, in-principle agreement  to  hire  Finsbury  Park  to  the Applicant for the events and  dates detailed in this report as set out in paragraph 6.4 and (2) enter into contract to hire Finsbury Park to the Applicant (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 the report would be 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 lengthy discussions with relevant authorities-including Licensing-before final approval 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 (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 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.