Penrith Town Council held its final scheduled full council meeting of the year on Monday evening (18th November).
At the meeting Councillors received an updated on work by the town council to deliver a new Mayday event in Penrith in 2025 after the town council voted in July become lead body for the Penrith May Day event which will be held on Monday 5th May 2025.
The council established an Arts and Stakeholder group that the town council chair is also a member of who are bringing together a programme of entertainment for the day which will be reported to the Council in early 2025.
The town council arts and culture stakeholder group includes Penrith Players, Evan, Sunbeams, BlueJam, Plug and Play, Stomping Ground and Alhambra Cinema.
Councillors were informed that the council’s insurers have told the Town Council that its current insurance policy only cover events with up to 2000 attendees at any one time so work to obtain quotes and insurance cover for the Mayday event will be carried out by council officers to provide insurance cover for over 5000 attendees.
Councillors were told that a £15,000 budget for the Mayday event will be included in the councils proposed budget for 2025/26 as part of the council's council tax precept setting process that will be approved 8n January by the council.
Councillors were asked to approve for officers to explore quotations and appoint an experienced Cumbrian based events management contractor to oversee the delivery of the May Day event, subject to quotations not exceeding £5,000.
The council has previously said that "It Will Be Mayday But Not As We Know It" in 2025
Cllr. Doug Lawson, Penrith Town Council Chair & Penrith Mayor speaking on the future of the Penrith Mayday event said:"I am so pleased to see the Council agreeing to take a lead role. I'm sure it's something our residents would have hoped and perhaps expected of us!"
"The Council previously supported the Penrith Lions Club with the delivery of the 2024 event - allowing us to develop an understanding of the event planning and requirements – so I am confident that we will be able to deliver a fantastic event for the town next year."
"The Council has already committed to working with other organisations in Penrith including the Arts and Culture Stakeholder Group to make this a great event, so watch this space in the coming months for more information about next year's May Day Carnival!"
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