NORWOOD PARK TO PLAY HOST TO MAJOR EVENTS
Norwood park is set to play host to eight major event days each year as part of a new Lambeth council strategy to raise funds for parks, open spaces, community events and community groups..
Some monies from a new parks investment levy will go into creating a community fund to support local events, some will be invested in open spaces across the borough in consultation with the parks service and parks community groups.
.Music sound levels will be increased to be consistent with other boroughs – to 75dB from the current 70dB for a limited number of appropriate major events.
Proposals agreed by Lambeth council’s cabinet on Monday night will see the licensing of the borough’s five main parks and open spaces – Kennington Park, Clapham Common, Brockwell Park, Streatham Common and Norwood Park.
The new parks investment levy will see the council charging more for high quality commercial events which goes back to the community to support local events and spaces; as well as creating a funding pot that community events can bid for and training to those community groups creating a skill base for the future.
The report to Monday night’s meeting claimed the move would also keep the annual Lambeth Country Show free (but makes no mention of the annual fireworks display cancelled last year).
The report to cabinet says: “In future the new events strategy will generate over £100k of income to support our parks and open spaces and manage a community fund to support small local events.
“Without generating income from events, the pressure of council budgets and cuts to parks services will have a greater impact on the diverse range of events across the borough and our communities.
“We can see from the 200 – 300 events each year there is an appetite to both attend and create events from all parts of the community.
“Because events are planned years in advance, it is imperative that Lambeth has the framework for operating and managing safe, successful and attractive events, working with organisers, local people and partners.
“The Events Service has an expenditure budget of £687k and an income budget of £780k giving a total net income budget of £93k in 2016/17.
“This base budget supports the Lambeth Country Show and core staffing costs. “In 2015 the Lambeth Country show had a net cost of £382k which was offset by other events income generated.
”In future, the new events strategy will generate over £100k of additional income to help support our parks and open spaces and manage a community fund to support small local events.”
The fixed noise monitoring locations for Norwood Park are: 34 Salters Hill; junction of Salters Hill with the A214 outside Virgo Fidelis Convent; junction of Elder Road and Stable Mews; corner of Norwood Park Road and Benton’s Rise.
Sound Levels: Only the commercial eight major event days, per zone, will be allowed the higher sound levels, says the report. “Any event application that seeks the higher sound levels will be judged on a case by case basis to see if the higher levels are necessary and appropriate.
“Commercial major event days may not only take place in one park or open space but may involve multiple spaces and road closures to accommodate a larger event than the parks in that area can accommodate.
“As these commercial event days are significant events they will need to be managed by a competent events management company and it is anticipated that they will be planned at least 6-12 months in advance.
“At present we have only one major event that would require the higher sound levels. The proposal in the strategy is to develop up to eight major event days in each zone across the borough, which could include a park or highway…..
“Not all major events will require higher sound levels – it could be that they are sporting events or longer running film screenings for smaller audiences.”
Legal and Democracy: Decision-makers are required to take consultation responses fully into account in deciding whether to approve the report’s recommendations.
The Supreme Court recognises four principles for lawful consultation, which are generally known as the Gunning or the Sedley principles namely that: consultation must be at a time when proposals are still at a formative stage;· the proposer must give sufficient reasons for any proposal to permit intelligent· consideration and response; adequate time must be given for consideration and response; and,· the product of consultation must be conscientiously taken into account in finalising· any proposals.
The park is bordered by Elder Road, Central Hill and Salter’s Hill.
FURTHER READING: Friends of Brockwell Park question Lambeth Council financial transparency as Cabinet prepares five year plan for parks. by Jason Cobb Brixton Buzz July 10th 2016