DECISION

1.    Approve the option to enter into a three-year Licence to Occupy with AEG Presents Limited as required.

2.    Authorise the Corporate Director of Communities to instruct the Director of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer, to execute and enter into all necessary agreements to give effect to the implementation of recommendation 1 from the report;

3.    To note the Equalities specific considerations as set out in Paragraph 4 of the report.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR COMMUNITIES (S. BAXTER)

Head of Arts, Parks and Events (C. Boyd)

Councillor Iqbal Hossain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation introduced the report that proposed that the Council grants a licence to AEG Presents Limited to occupy areas of Victoria Park, at times to be specifically agreed, between April and September over a three-year calendar period (2024, 2025 and 2026). He explained that the proposed approach would generate additional income to enable the Council to continue to maintain its parks and open spaces and provide increased opportunities for residents and visitors to engage with a wide range of events including free to access community event days. Finally, Councillor Hossain outlined how planned mitigations would minimise any unwelcome impacts on residents arising from the arrangement.

The Mayor welcomed the report which he hoped would ensure more activities in parks, more opportunities for cultural events for residents as well as more income to invest in parks and open spaces and for the people of the borough.

RESOLVED that the Mayor in Cabinet:

1. Approves the option to enter into a three-year Licence to Occupy with AEG Presents Limited as required.

2. Authorises the Corporate Director of Communities to instruct the Director of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer, to execute and enter into all necessary agreements to give effect to the implementation of recommendation 1 from the report;

3. Notes the Equalities specific considerations as set out in Paragraph 4 of the report.