Paper petition details
Restricting Events in Victoria Park
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On reaching 30 signatures Eligible to present to Council
This Paper petition was received on 10/01/2024.
158 people signed this Paper petition.
This is a paper petition received by the council. It has never been available for signature online.
Council response
Tower Hamlets Council is proud of its diverse cultural offer, and Victoria Park has a long history of hosting world-class events. Through the policy amendment, the Council is able to consider a wider range of events and will provide increased opportunities for residents and visitors to engage in arts and cultural events and programmes.
The policy also enables the Council to consider a range of non-music focused events (food festivals, seasonal fairs, trade shows, comedy festivals etc) and community events delivered as part of a commercial events programme. The current major events programme includes four free-to-access community event days delivered through In the Neighbourhood. Local businesses and performers also benefit from opportunities to participate in these events.
A potential additional two major event days per annum can be considered through the Major Events Policy for Victoria Park, subject to event organisers obtaining a Premises Licence and meeting the Council’s robust requirements for holding an event.
The Council assesses applications on a case-by-case basis. All major events and events with a capacity over 499 that include regulated entertainment and /or sale of alcohol require a Premises Licence. Licence applications are assessed against the following licensable objectives:
• the prevention of crime and disorder
• public safety
• the prevention of public nuisance, and
• the protection of children from harm.
The Council has an excellent track record of safely and responsibly managing events in parks with complaints for the major events programme in Victoria Park down 63% in 2023. All licensable events are subject to an enhanced planning process through which organisers have to demonstrate they have appropriate arrangements in place to minimise impact to the park and residents. This includes providing detailed security and stewarding plans, noise management plans, waste and cleansing arrangements as well as measures to promote sustainable practices. The major events programme is carefully managed, with measures put in place to protect the park grounds and pre and post event condition surveys undertaken.
An environmental impact fee is applied to major events, which is utilised to improve ground conditions and enhance planting across the park.
For licensable events, residents and stakeholders will be consulted on an event-by-event basis through a statutory 28 day consultation period. In addition, major event organisers will be required to engage with residents through community engagement sessions specific to their event programme to inform event planning and delivery. This is done through pre and post event community engagement meetings and from feedback / queries received during the event to the Council and the event organiser.
Events provide a range of opportunities for resident engagement. As part of the 2023 events programme, four of the ten event days were free for the community to access. This community programme offered a range of free events and activities for families to enjoy in the school holidays. These events also provide opportunities for local performers, community organisations and businesses to be involved.
The Arts, Parks and Events service works with event organisers to ensure that disruption is minimised. This includes condensing set up and take down days and permitting walking routes, when it is practical and safe to do so, through the event site. Furthermore, large areas of Victoria Park (approximately 2/3 of the park) remained accessible for public use during the major events programme in 2023.
Tower Hamlets, like other local authorities, hosts well managed events to generate income, which support the upkeep of parks and open spaces and Council services, including a ringfenced £100,000 per annum towards the upkeep of Victoria Park. A well-managed and broader range of events also benefits the local economy through local expenditure and in 2022, the major events programme provided over £3m in economic expenditure benefit to Tower Hamlets.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Baxter
Corporate Director, Communities