Council Reveal Statutory Charges Paid by Towns Two Key Events

2024 has seen two key events in Penrith facing challenges around finances and claims of overburdening by regulatory requirements leading to key events in Penrith’s annual calendar facing an uncertain future.

Both the annual Mayday event and the Penrith Winter Droving have faced issues with claims made of increased costs and regulatory requirements by Westmorland and Furness Council impacting on event’s alongside wider cost increases.

Following some criticism from members of the community towards Westmorland and Furness Council over charges for events they have revealed the actual amounts the council charge both of the towns key events with the charges due to statutory requirements needed for holding such events including road closures and temporary event licenses.

The council has confirmed that the fees it charged covering road closures for the 2023 Winter Droving resulted in an application fee charged of £777 and an Advertising fee of the notice of road closures of £356.88 and the fees covering road closures for the 2024 MayDay resulted in an application fee charged of £369 and an Advertising fee of the notice of road closures of £308.

In addition, the Winter Droving pays the council an annual Premises Licence covering Penrith Town Centre for regulated entertainment only with no alcohol, charged by the council as a £70.00 annual maintenance fee.

The 2024 Mayday event was also charged for two temporary event notice (TEN) Applications for regulated entertainment in Devonshire Street and a second for regulated entertainment in the Bandstand with a total charge of £42.00

Westmorland and Furness Council said “All Licensing fees set out above are not set by Local Authority, rather are national standard set by the LGA (Local Government Association).”

On the issue of street cleaning and waste removal following the events in the town centre the council said “Westmorland and Furness Council does not charge for either event. The Winter Droving event organisers contract direct with Urbaser for additional waste/cleansing services.”

With a total charge by Westmorland and Furness Council to each event of £1203.88 paid by the organisers of the 2023 Winter Droving and £719 paid by the organisers of the 2024 Mayday.

In addition to the charges paid by the event organisers to the council some additional temporary event notices were paid by stall holders selling alcohol and mulled wine at the events charged at £21.00 per application paid for by the stall holders direct to the council with one at the Winter Droving in 2023 and one at the 2024 Mayday.

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