Bath & North East Somerset Council | |||
MEETING: |
Community, Culture and Leisure Committee |
AGENDA | |
MEETING DATE: |
Monday, 10th July 2000 | ||
REPORT AUTHOR: |
John Howey, Head of Leisure Services Ext. 7234 | ||
RESPONSIBLE OFFICER: |
John Howey, Head of Leisure Services Ext. 7234 | ||
TITLE: |
|||
WARD: |
Principally Kingsmead and Abbey but implications for all Bath wards | ||
BACKGROUND PAPERS: 1992 report to the Spa and Recreation Committee, Bath City Council Notes of meetings of the consultative group, 11th January, 31st January, 28th February and 8th May 2000 Reports of crime and disorder statistics, Royal Victoria Park, adjacent streets and Royal Avenue Licence to use RVP for events Results of residents' survey Recommendations of Residents' Associations | |||
AN OPEN PUBLIC ITEM | |||
1 SUMMARY
1.1 This report concerns a review of the Council's policy regarding use of Royal Victoria Park for a range of events. An extensive consultation process has been carried out. The report outlines the process, draws conclusions and makes recommendations.
2 RECOMMENDATION
2.1 That Committee decides in principle whether: -
2.2 it wishes to continue the use of Royal Victoria Park for a range of events broadly similar the current programme, as set out in Appendix 1.
2.3 it wishes to consider use of the Park for additional major events, similar to the Carreras concert held in 1992, possibly with a limit of two such events per year.
And, dependant on the decisions at a) and b) above, that Committee: -
2.4 authorises officers to seek expert opinion as to the effect of existing bylaws on organised events.
2.5 agrees that, subject to existing contractual commitments, officers, in consultation with spokespersons should explore means of reducing the impact on local residents of some existing events by such means as limiting them in number, reducing their duration or seeking alternative venues.
2.6 requests that cross service liaison within the Council and avenues of communication between residents, event organisers and Council services should continue to be strengthened and developed.
3 RESOURCE AND CORPORATE POLICY IMPLICATIONS (WHERE NECESSARY, THE VIEWS OF THE COUNCIL'S STATUTORY OFFICERS ARE REFLECTED IN THE COMMENTS BELOW)
3.1 Financial: Reduction of events would have an effect on the Council's income. If it is decided to seek expert opinion as to the existing bylaws an additional unbudgeted cost will be incurred.
3.2 Staffing: It is considered unlikely that there will be any impact on staffing.
3.3 Equalities: None
3.4 Economic: The current events programme benefits the local economy by attracting people to the city.
3.5 Environment: Events have an adverse impact on the local environment through increased traffic, generation of litter, noise and intrusion for local residents and superficial damage to the Park
3.6 Council Wide Impacts: None
4 BACKGROUND AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK
4.1 Over recent years Royal Victoria Park has been used for a wide variety of events, including in 1992 two major concerts of international status, Jose Carreras (on the area in front of Royal Crescent) and the WOMAD Festival (Middle Common). The WOMAD Festival was held again in 1993 as well as a further major concert, featuring Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
4.2 For various reasons concerts on the scale of the 1992 and 1993 events have not been repeated. For the last five years the programme has been fairly static. The current programme is set out in Appendix 1.
4.3 The events are attended and enjoyed by large numbers of people, both residents and visitors to the city. They also produce revenue for the Council, benefit the local economy and add to the cultural life of the City. The noise from some events, the numbers of people attending, increased traffic and litter generation does have an adverse impact on local residents and gives rise to complaints. Bath City Council last formally considered the issue in 1992. That Council agreed: -
· to the staging of two major outdoor classical concerts (on consecutive evenings) in front of the Royal Crescent on an annual basis.
· to a festival of world music in the Royal Victoria Park to become part of the Annual Events Programme for the City.
· to review the arrangements for the visit of the fun fair to the Park in 1994.
· to confirm its support for use of the Park for such events as laid out in Appendix 1 (broadly similar to the current programme), with the proviso that any future requests for major events of the size and nature of Womad (one of the 1992 events referred to in 4.1 above) be brought to this committee for its consideration.
4.4 The funfair was reviewed in 1994 and approved for a 3 year period. A further licence was issued in April 1998, expiring in April 2002 but with an option for a further 3 years. The licence specifies two visits per year, one for 3 weeks and the other for 2.
4.5 As the successor to Bath City Council, the above policy is also the current policy of this Council. Certain events continue to give rise to complaints so it is considered appropriate to review the existing policy.
5 REVIEW PROCESS
5.1 The review process has involved consultation with Ward Councillors, Residents' Associations, Event Organisers, residents living adjacent to the Park, the Police and Council Officers.
5.2 The consultation process involved meetings on 11th January, 31st January, 28th February and 8th May 2000 and a postal survey of residents carried out during April 2000. A list of those attending the meetings is attached at Appendix 2.
5.3 As well as providing a forum for a general exchange of views, the consultative group considered :-
· relevant bylaws
· written submissions of the Residents' Associations
· current controls
· 1992 policy
· crime and disorder statistics
· results of residents' survey
· sale/use of alcohol
6 BYLAWS
6.1 Issues have arisen concerning existing bylaws. These issues do not appear to have been considered in previous reviews. The relevant bylaws, which apply to all parks and open spaces in Bath are as follows: -
· Made on 28th August 1962 and confirmed on 21st November 1962
"Any person who by operating or causing or suffering to be operated any wireless set, gramophone,amplifier or similar instrument -
a) in any street or public place or in connection with any shop, business premises or other public place and to which the public are admitted, makes or causes or suffers to be made any noise which is so loud and so continuous or repeated as to give reasonable cause for annoyance to other persons,
............... shall be guilty of an offence."
· Made on 5th April 1982 and confirmed on 27th May 1982
"A person shall not by playing any musical instrument or causing or suffering to be operated any wireless set, gramophone, amplifier, tape recorder or similar instrument make, cause or suffer to be made any noise which is so loud or so continuous or repeated as to give reasonable cause for annoyance to other persons on the ground."
6.2 It is likely that the bylaws were intended to regulate the behaviour if individuals rather than apply to organised events. The view of the Residents' Associations is that the bylaws should be observed in relation to events. If the Council wishes to continue with a programme of events involving amplification the issue of the bylaws will need to be addressed.
6.3 The Housing and Public Protection Committee is due to consider a report from the Head of Environmental and Consumer Services about revoking, and replacing, a bylaw concerning noise in the street and other public places. It is confirmed that the bylaw being discussed in that report has no effect on the bylaw discussed in this report, and its revocation and replacement will not affect the scope or enforceability of the bylaws discussed here.
7 CRIME AND DISORDER
7.1 The Police provided statistics of Crime and Disorder reports for streets adjacent to Royal Victoria Park, the Park itself (which includes Charlotte Street car park) and Royal Avenue. No significant variances were evident related to the times when events were taking place.
8 RESIDENTS' SURVEY
8.1 A total of 1112 questionnaires were sent to residents who live around Royal Victoria Park. 303 questionnaires were completed and returned - a response of approximately 27%. The consultative group agreed the streets included and the addressees were as per the current electoral roll. The consultative group considered the results at a meeting on 8th May 2000. It was agreed that the response was statistically valid. Some of the most significant points arising from the survey are as follows: -
· The majority responding have lived less than 5 years at their present address but a significant number had lived there for more than 20 years.
· Just over half those responding (160) said they were a member of a residents' association.
· About half `celebrate' events by inviting friends or family to their home to join in with their participation.
· A significant number (almost 25%) said they had planned time away from home to coincide with events to avoid noise or disruption.
· Just over 75% of the sample had attended events which had been held in the Park in the last 12 months, the most popular of which were the Bath Festival Opening Night, Spring Flower Show and Fringe Festival (evening marquee on the bandstand lawn).
· Respondents considered the Festival Opening Night, the Fringe Festival and the Funfair to be the most intrusive events in terms of both amplified music and general disturbance. Not many considered the Spring Flower Show to be intrusive at all.
· Most people considered that finishing times for events between 10.00pm and midnight would be appropriate.
· Respondents said they would be most likely to direct any complaints to the Council's Environmental Health Services.
Full survey results have been placed on deposit at the Guildhall, Bath, Riverside Offices, Keynsham, the Hollies, Midsomer Norton and Envolve, Green Park Station, Bath.
9 CONTROLS
9.1 Some events require a Public Entertainments Licence, which enables the Council, through Environment and Consumer Services, to apply and monitor conditions with the purpose of maintaining public safety and controlling noise, and other potential nuisance.
9.2 The Parks Service, which deals with permissions for events in Royal Victoria Park issues a licence to organisers which again applies conditions which if not observed can result in revoking the licence.
10 CONCLUSIONS
10.1 Residents and Residents' Associations are not opposed to events in Royal Victoria Park but are concerned about the appropriateness of some events.
10.2 Events which cause most concern, are the Funfair, the Opening Night of the Music Festival, the Fringe and major concerts (none recently).
10.3 There are significant issues related to current bylaws.
10.4 Crime and disorder, whether alcohol related or not is not deemed by the police to be a significant issue.
10.5 The consultative process demonstrated the importance of seeking views from all concerned in open and constructive forum.
10.6 There is good inter service liaison within the Council, which should continue to be developed in the interests of seeking constructive solutions.
10.7 Avenues of communication between residents, event organisers and Council services currently happen on an ad hoc basis and should be further strengthened and developed.
11 CONSULTATION
11.1 This report has not been sent to Trades Unions because no staffing issues arise.
Document3This version was printed 30-Jun-00 11:58
· APPENDIX 1 - LIST OF CURRENT EVENTS
APRIL
Rogers Fun Fair
Royal Victoria Park
Arrives on site Saturday 1 April, open to the public Friday 7 to Wednesday 26 April and leaves Wednesday 26/Thursday 27 April
Contact: Stephen Rawlings. Tel: 0831 117193.
Annual Bath Spring Flower Show
Royal Victoria Park
Saturday 29 April to B/H Monday 1 May - 10.00am-6.00pm daily
Contact: Sarah Giovannini, Bath & N.E Somerset Council. Tel: 01225 482624.
MAY
Royal Victoria Park-Royal Avenue
Sunday 14 May - 8.00am
Contact: Celia Sheppard. Tel: 01749 675973
Rogers Fun Fair
Royal Victoria Park
Arrives on site Wednesday 17 May, open to public Friday 19 May-Sunday 28 May.
Contact: Stephen Rawlings. Tel: 0831 117193.
Bath International Music Festival Opening Night Celebrations
Royal Victoria Park-in front of the Royal Crescent and The Circus
Friday 19 May-6.00pm-10.00pm
Contact: Steve Hunt, Bath Festivals Trust. Tel: 01225 462231.
Bath Balloon Fiesta
Royal Victoria Park-6.30pm Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 May
Contact: David Littlewood, Bath & N.E Somerset Council. Tel: 01225 310080.
Childrens Dancing In The Park
Royal Victoria Park - bandstand lawn
Saturday 20 May - 1200noon-4.00pm
Contact: Dave Leverton, Bath Festivals Trust. Tel: 01225 462231.
The Motor Sports Association AXA Car Rally
Saturday 27 May
All day in back half of Royal Victoria Park - area closed around obelisk
Sunday 28 May - 8.00am
Royal Victoria Park - Royal Avenue
Contact: Andrew Kellitt, Motor Sports Association. Tel: 01753 681736.
Sunday 28 May to Sunday 4 June
Contact: John Howard, Tournament Manager. Tel: 0117 9140742
Bath Fringe -Childrens Festival
Royal Victoria Park - bandstand lawn
Setting up from B/H Monday 29 May
Actual event Wednesday 31 May and Thursday 1 June
Contact: Liz Lavender/Suzi Mizrahi, Bath Fringe Festival. Tel: 01225 480079.
JUNE
Bath to Bournemouth Classic Car Run
Royal Victoria Park - Royal Avenue
Sunday 11 June - 8.00am
Contact: Keith McGee, Merlin Events. Tel: 01935 474630
Bath Churches Together-Pentecost 2000
Royal Victoria Park-bandstand lawn
Sunday 11 June-11.00am
Contact: Reverend Jennifer Davis. Tel: 01225 832268
Sunday 11 June - 9.00am
Contact: Ted Tandy. Tel: 01225 330748.
The Band of Avon Fire Brigade
Contact: Sarah Giovannini, Bath N.E Somerset. Tel: 01225 482624.
JULY
Somerset Battalion Boys Brigade-Church Parade & Service 2000
Royal Victoria Park- Royal Avenue and bandstand lawn
Sunday 2 July- 11.00am
Contact: Rob Williams. Tel : 01454 201073.
Sunday 9 July-3.00pm
Contact: Sarah Giovannini, Bath N.E Somerset Council. Tel: 01225 482624.
Back half of Royal Victoria Park
Sunday 9 July - 11.00am - 12.30pm
Contact: Merv. Fenty, Bath Sports Development. Tel: 01225 477000.
Tour of the Gardens, a band, lecture and demonstration with cream teas available.
Sunday 16 July - 2.30pm- 6.00pm
Contact: Sarah Giovannini, Bath & NE Somerset Council. Tel: 01225 482624.
AUGUST
Arts Play Umbrella
Wednesday 30 August - Sunday 3 September
Contact: John Paul. Tel: 029 2023 1233.
SEPTEMBER
Moscow State Circus
Royal Victoria Park-back half
Setting up from Sunday 10 September
Actual event from Tuesday 12 to Sunday 17 September
Contact: Anne Owen. Tel: 01932 830000.
Greenwood Exhibitions Bath to Bournemouth Car Run
Royal Victoria Park-Royal Avenue
Sunday 17 September-8.00am
Contact: Jackie Marriott, Greenwood Exhibitions. Tel: 01296 631181.
OCTOBER
European Duathlon Championships
Royal Victoria Park - Royal Avenue and back half of park
Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 October -all day
Contact: John Howey, Bath & NE Somerset Council. Tel: 01225 477234.
· APPENDIX 2 - LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES ON CONSULTATIVE GROUP
Mr |
Peter |
Cray |
Marlborough Lane/Marlborough Buildings Residents Association |
|
Mr |
Brian |
Fearn |
The Circus Residents Association |
|
Mr |
George |
McWatters |
Catherine Place Residents Association |
|
Mr |
Stephen |
Little |
Royal Crescent Society |
|
Ms |
Wendy |
Matthews |
Bath Fringe Festival |
|
Mr |
Tim |
Joss |
Artistic Director, Bath Festivals Trust |
|
Mr |
Stephen |
Rawlings |
Rogers' Funfair |
|
Mr |
L |
Beere |
Manager, The Royal Crescent Hotel |
|
Sergeant |
Phil |
West |
Bath Police Station |
|
Ms |
Liz |
Lavender |
Childrens Festival |
|
Councillor |
G F |
Curran |
Kingsmead Ward |
|
Councillor |
A J |
Furse |
Kingsmead Ward |
|
Councillor |
V |
Kilroy |
Abbey Ward |
|
Councillor |
A |
Melling |
Abbey Ward |
|
Mr |
David |
Littlewood |
Parks Manager |
|
Mr |
Howard |
Nowell |
Head of Environmental & Consumer Services |
|
Mr |
Andrew |
Reed |
Solicitor |
|
Ms |
Sarah |
Giovannini |
Events Officer |
|
Ms |
Cath |
Humphries |
Environmental Health Officer |
|
Ms |
Cathy |
McKeown |
Licensing Officer |
