Decision details

(TAKE IN REPORT BY THE HEAD OF CITY DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL SERVICES)

Mr Evans, Seafront Manager introduced the report and in response to questions clarified the following points:

·         There are over 200 events on the seafront every year.

·        Each event organiser must ensure there is public liability insurance in place and the Council monitors this.

·        The increased fees would offset all costs.

·        The administration charge was proposed to ensure that once charities had booked the use of the seafront they were committed and do not pull out. 

Councillor Hunt felt that an additional 2% for sun huts was excessive. The opposition spokespeople felt that an administration charge should not be introduced to process event applications for charity and community events as this would discourage many from applying. It was instead agreed to remove the administration fee for charity and national events.  It was suggested that if an incomplete application is submitted then a charge be applied to cover the additional work that would be needed by officers and this could be added to the application form.

DECISIONS:

(1) That approval is given for all fees and charges to be increased by the

rate of inflation as shown in Schedule A. With the exception that under Administration fees, community events and local charities should not be charged a fee.

(2) That the fees and charges associated with sun hut hire are increased

by 12% in order to achieve increased income targets.

(3) That the charge relating to seafront equipment is for a hire period of

per event instead of per day.

(4) That a two tier charging rate is introduced for national and local

charity events applying considerable discounts from commercial rates

(5)That new commercial hire fees for events on the Seafront are

introduced where numbers are based on the guidelines for Premises

Licences and charged as follows:

(6) There will be no administration fee charged to charities either local or national.