Issue - meetings

The new charging policy was introduced from December 2012 and included a clause that permits registered charities with an income of less than £10,000 who are holding a community event in a park or open space to be exempt from the cost recovery charge. Mapesbury Dell Trust have submitted a petition requesting that they be exempt from any cost recovery fee. The Mapesbury Dell Trust played a critical role in making the Dell the award winning park that it is today and wish members to exclude them from the agreed charging policy.

(i)         that the principle of partial cost recovery charging to organisers that wish to hold events in Brent’s parks and open spaces be retained;

(ii)        that the four charging criteria as agreed by members in September 2012 and detailed in paragraphs 3.7 to 3.10 inclusive of the report from the  Strategic Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods be retained;

(iii)       that the exemption from charges as defined in the definition of a community event be amended to that defined in paragraph 3.18 of the report;

(iv)       that the amended exemption to the charging policy be implemented for events being held after 31 March 2015.

Councillor Crane (Lead Member, Environment) introduced the report prepared in response to a petition submitted by Mapesbury Dell Trust, presented earlier in the meeting which requested that the Trust be exempt from the £30 charge levied for holding community events. Councillor Crane reminded the Cabinet that the policy introduced in 2012 was designed to claw back costs for large scale events and not intended to apply to not for profit community organisations. The report from the Strategic Director, Environment and Neighbourhoods redefined community events to include organisations recognised as charitable by HMRC for tax purposes, such as the Mapesbury Dell Trust.

Councillor Denselow commended the Trust for their work and was pleased that the council was able to accede to their request.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the principle of partial cost recovery charging to organisers that wish to hold events in Brent’s parks and open spaces be retained;

(ii)        that the four charging criteria as agreed by members in September 2012 and detailed in paragraphs 3.7 to 3.10 inclusive of the report from the  Strategic Director, Environment and Neighbourhoods be retained;

(iii)       that the exemption from charges as defined in the definition of a community event be amended to that defined in paragraph 3.18 of the report;

(iv)       that the amended exemption to the charging policy be implemented for events being held after 31 March 2015.