Issue - meetings

The Public Realm Usage Policy had been updated to better manage the town centre spaces open to the public, and the events permitted within the town centre denoted boundary.  The proposals had been considered by both the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Executive, and the Council was now recommended to adopt the updated Policy.  It was noted Officers would consider how the Policy could be delivered on a cost neutral basis but not financially burden charities.

RESOLVED

That the updated Public Realm Usage Policy, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be adopted.

Reporting Person – Kevin Foster

The Executive received a report which recommended to Council the adoption of the updated Public Realm Usage Policy in order to better manage the town centre spaces open to the public, and the events permitted within the town centre denoted boundary, for the benefit of all users.  The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report at its meeting on 10 July 2023 under its remit for pre-decision scrutiny.  A copy of the recommendations of the Committee were before the Executive and set out that the Committee welcomed the Policy, that every effort be made to ensure that such a policy be delivered on a cost neutral basis, and that due consideration be given such that charities not be financially burdened by the policy.  The Executive noted the recommendations from the Committee and agreed that Officers should consider how the Policy could be delivered on a cost neutral basis but not financially burden charities.

         RESOLVED

          That          (i)         the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted;

                 (ii)      Officers consider how the Public Realm Usage Policy could be delivered on a cost neutral basis but not financially burden charities; and

REcommended to Council

That the updated Public Realm Usage Policy, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be adopted.

Reason:   To ensure fair and consistent usage of the town centre to promote footfall and economic prosperity.

Members sought confirmation that it was permissible to charge different prices to entities dependent on their size and locality.  The legal Officer provided their opinion that a variable charge was at the discretion of the Council.

Officers confirmed that there was no appeal process if an organisation was refused use of the public realm space.

The Committee recommended that individuals’ names and contacts be replaced with positions and departments responsible in the event that individuals were to stop working for the Council.

The Committee discussed whether, given the Council’s financial position, it could afford to provide the services for free, or if they should be charged at cost.  The Committee recognised that the costs could be discretionary, particularly to ensure that charities were not burdened financially.  Officers considered that an analysis would need to be performed to determine this.  The Committee agreed to adopt a recommendation that could be put to the Executive to consider how the service could be cost neutral but not harm charities.

Recommended to the Executive that

(i)               the Public Realm Usage Policy was welcomed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

(ii)              every effort be made to ensure that such a policy be delivered on a cost neutral basis; and

(iii)            due consideration be given such that charities not be financially burdened by the policy.