Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Supporting Places)

The report sets out a proposal to introduce a single fee for carnivals using Council owned land.

The Executive is recommended to introduce a £250 flat rate fee for carnivals.

Officer contact: Ian O’Donnell, 0161 474 4175, ian.odonnell@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Places) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider a proposal to introduce a single fee for carnivals using Council owned land.

RESOLVED – That the proposal to introduce a single £250 flat fee for carnivals using Council land be approved.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider the Council’s Fees and Charges relating to carnivals and comment on the proposal to introduce a £250 flat rate fee.

Officer Contact: Ian O’Donnell on 0161 474 4175 or email: ian.odonnell@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) regarding the fees and charges for carnivals and fairgrounds held on parks and greenspace land.

It was reported that historically fees and charges relating to carnivals and fairgrounds had been subject to a degree of discretion dependent upon the existence of a charitable dimension to the event. There had been inconsistency in the amount being paid to charities in the past. On December 2013 a decision had been made that there would be no charity discount for fairgrounds but 50% of the fee would be donated to the relevant Friends of Parks Groups if there was one. In 2015 representations had been made on behalf of carnival organisers that introducing the fees for fairgrounds associated with the carnivals meant that money that would be donated to good causes through them was being paid in costs to the Council. As a result no charges had been made for carnivals in the last financial year.

For carnivals which served a particular community and re-invested money into the local community without making a commercial profit, it was proposed that a one off charge of £250 to cover any administration costs involved in arranging the event or attending on the day should be made. It was also proposed that fairgrounds operating on a commercial basis should pay at the previously agreed rates.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Places)(Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

Members debated the proposal including whether there should be a fee for carnivals which served a particular community, whether it was the right amount, what the fee was to cover and the legality of the fee.

It was then:-

RESOLVED – (Eight for, one against) That the Executive Meeting be advised that this Scrutiny Committee supports the introduction of a £250 flat rate fee for carnivals.