Decision details

The report details a review of the current Thanet District Council events policy, processes and proposes the revised Event Policy and introduction of the Suitability of Events document along with an update in fees and charges.

Events help to contribute to the local economy in Thanet. There were over 230 events organised in Thanet over the last few years (this is a reduced number due to the COVID 19 pandemic). These events help to promote the culture, build community spirit, and contribute to increasing visitors to the area.

These events included:

• Red Bull Quicksands;
• Great Bucket and Spade Run;
• Broadstairs food Festival;
• Dickens Festival;
• Kite Surfing Championships;
• Margate Festival;

The updated policy will enable organisers to understand the events process, giving them guidance and support when organising events in Thanet. The policy outlines the importance of safety, identifying that events need to be covid-19 compliant, and that organisers need to be thinking about reducing carbon emissions in line with the climate emergency called by TDC in 2019.

TDC will also include workshops for event organisers and other training and learning opportunities.

The new fees and charges establish a clear charging framework to ensure that the costs of hiring council land is transparent from the beginning of the process.

Cabinet agreed the following recommendations:

1.  The adoption of the events policy to include the Suitability of Events document and new fees and charges;

2.  That TDC liaise with Town Councils and Margate Trustees informing them of events happening locally (see page.3, Paragraph 4, Point ix in the events policy document which is an annex to the cabinet report).

The policy, suitability of events document and new fees and charges clearly lay out the expectations of all parties involved in the event and land hire process. It streamlines the process and is easier to use.

Not to agree with the policy - this was rejected as the policy is an improvement on the existing situation.

Propose changes - there were no other changes proposed so this was rejected.