On Thursday 24 February Solihull Council approved the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2021/22 – 2024/25 with fees and charges for each portfolio. Included within the fees and charges for Leisure and Tourism there are some new charges for community and charity events the exact details of which have yet to be finalised.
The Council is keen to encourage community and charity events to continue to take place within its parks. Some large events allow commercial operators to profit from running stalls, cafes and rides and there are associated cleaning up costs afterwards which the Council currently pays for. The proposed new fees are intended to help pay for these clean-up costs. It is not the intention that activities should be restricted because of any new fees.
The new fee structure – which is on a sliding scale that will remain free for small events - will be presented to the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Tourism and Sport later in the year and the Council will then consult with event organisers. No fees will be implemented until this process has been completed and the Council expects this to take at least six months. If agreed, the fees will not be applied retrospectively.