The granting of a licence to AEG Presents Limited to occupy areas of Victoria Park at times to be specifically agreed throughout the summer and autumn period of 2024 is a decision that is required to be made. This is an interim arrangement pending the review of the Council’s Major Events Policy.

The decision on the licence is a key decision in that it may have a significant impact on the communities of two or more wards.
The decision to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Children and Culture to take this decision has been delegated by the Mayor through an Executive Decision.

AEG Presents Limited has approached the Council requesting a licence to occupy parts of Victoria Park at times to be agreed throughout the summer and autumn of 2024 (for not more than 10 days of events plus time to be agreed for assembling and dismantling of any required facilities). This is because they wish to run events for the public and AEG Presents Limited has offered a commercial licence fee for the use of the land provided that that agreement is reached in sufficient time for AEG Presents Limited to be able to make their own arrangements regarding the use.

The granting of a licence to AEG Presents Limited to occupy areas of Victoria Park at times to be specifically agreed throughout the summer and autumn period of 2024 is a decision that is required to be made. This is an interim arrangement pending the review of the Council’s Major Events Policy.

Major events require sufficient advance lead in time to allow for statutory requirements to be fulfilled (Premises Licence etc) and for potential operators to have enough time to secure artists, sponsors and commercial arrangements to make their events programme viable. Therefore, AEG Presents Limited require a response to their proposal urgently to ensure it remains commercially viable for them.

The granting of the licence is a key decision as it may have a significant impact on the communities of two or more wards.

Management of the licence to occupy the land is a function that sits within the Children and Culture Directorate and due to the need to determine agreement of the licence immediately the Mayor delegated authority to allow the Corporate Director, Children and Culture to consider and potentially approve AEG Presents Limited’s proposal.

Not to proceed with the licence to occupy and not have a major events programme in Victoria Park in 2024. Thereby, impacting the Council’s ability to continue its successful events programme, which thousands of members of the public attend.

Not proceed with the licence to occupy with AEG Presents Limited and seek individual licences with multiple occupiers. This could result in more impact to the park and users in relation to increased periods of occupation through a series of unrelated events.

Furthermore, an ad-hoc approach to licensing use of the land for major events in the summer would mean no guarantee of income and would therefore be deemed a high-risk approach. There is also limited time for event arrangements to be finalised ahead of 2024.