Agenda item

The report of the Head of Economic Regeneration.

The Head of Property and Regeneration presented the report.

In response to a question about how the £20,000 cost for Picnic in The Park was calculated, the Head of Finance advised that it was the net figure, and consequently included all income received for the event.  

The Chair requested that next year the incoming money for the event was explicitly noted – the Head of Finance was happy for to proceed with this suggestion going forwards.

Following on from this a member requested going forwards a balance sheet be produced for each future event for the Working Party to examine – the Chair concurred, and Officers were happy to proceed with this suggestion going forwards.

In response to a question about the time span for when the light columns would fail, the Head of Property and Regeneration advised that this year they would be fine, next year they would stress test again, and if failures continued at the current rate the light columns could well prove to be unviable.

In response to a question about Marlborough Square and the November deadline, the Head of Property and Regeneration advised that the contractor would suspend work a week before the Christmas celebrations, in a manner most conducive to public safety and leisure. He added that he was awaiting further clarification on certain matters from the contractors. It was unlikely that there would be a Christmas tree or lights in Marlborough Square this Christmas.

In response to a question about Christmas activities at Newmarket and how these would be impacted by the work on Marlborough Square, the Head of Property and Regeneration advised that they would have to assess this nearer to the time, with an emphasis when making that decision on public safety.

In response to a question about Needhams Walk car park and whether permission had been attained to close it, the Head of Property and Regeneration advised that they were working with the organisation who owns the car park.

In response to a question about contingencies should the Christmas event at Needhams Walk be cancelled, the Head of Property and Regeneration accepted the concerns, but advised that the Council was dependent on relations with third parties, which were subject to fluctuations over time. There could therefore be no guarantees, but contingency plans would be put in place. On a longer term basis, the Marlborough Square project would provide the organisation with a pedestrianised public space. He then illuminated the considerations behind event planning in the town when the available space was considered.

In response to a question about stress testing the light columns, the Head of Property and Regeneration set out how it worked and invited members to join him if they wanted to see this in greater detail.

Several Members commended Officers for the Coronation event and Picnic in the Park.

A couple of Members wondered about the feasibility of bussing the public into the town for celebrations. The Head of Property and Regeneration advised that Officers had been looking at using County Council car parks and would approach them about other car parks Members had suggested.

Following a discussion amongst members, Officers clarified that the recommendations of the report the Working Party were voting on superseded the discussions of the Events Working Group. Therefore, after all Members affirmed that they did want the fun fair to go ahead, it was accepted that there was no need to amend the recommendations as this was already reflected within the report.

Several Members expressed their regrets at the damage done recently to Coalville Park and praised the work of the Parks Team in dealing with the matter.

It was moved by Councillor M Wyatt, seconded by Councillor J Geary and

RESOLVED THAT:

The Working Party notes the progress made against the 2023/24 Events and Christmas Lights Programme.