Agenda item

11.1

The committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services and the content of previous reports and were asked to make a decision as to whether to grant Tramlines Events Limited (TEL) a licence for the use of Hillsborough Park for hosting the Tramlines Festival, noting the Heads of Terms of the licence (at Appendix 1), and the fee (at closed Appendix 3), as being on balance, in the best interests of the Hillsborough Park charity.

11.2

RESOLVED: That the Charity Trustee Sub-Committee:-

1.    Agree that hosting of the Tramlines Festival in Hillsborough Park represents a positive and beneficial use of the park bearing in mind the Hillsborough Park Charity objectives.

2.    Approve the license agreement Heads of Terms set out at Appendix 1.

3.    Approve the income to the Charity as set out in the fee schedule at closed Appendix 3 on the basis that it represents and supports positive and beneficial use of Hillsborough Park, having regard to the Charity’s objectives, and will benefit the Hillsborough Park Charity.

4.    Agree to £10,000 of the annual fee being used to improve, replace, or install equipment or facilities to improve the park for the benefit of park users, which would not have otherwise been possible using the Council’s revenue grant to the Hillsborough Park Charity.

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR – 4 Members; AGAINST – 1 Member (Councillor Douglas Johnson); ABSTENTIONS – 0 Members)

11.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

The licence agreement provides protection for the Hillsborough Park Charity and considers the best interests of the park.

11.3.2

The fee schedule provides best value and income certainty for the Hillsborough Park Charity.

11.3.3

Sheffield will continue to benefit from the social, cultural and economic benefits derived from hosting Tramlines.

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

11.4.1

A 10-year agreement was considered. However, it was felt this was too long a period to set out fees for the use of Hillsborough Park and was deemed not to be in the best interests of the charity.

11.4.2

A fee structure that included inflationary increases was considered. However, TEL requested the certainty of a fixed fee and as this would also provide income certainty for the Hillsborough Park Charity, a fixed 5-year fee structure was agreed. This fixed fee is approximately the same amount as would have been received if we had agreed to a lower annual fee and annual inflationary increases of c5%.

11.4.3

There was an option to do nothing and not enter into a revised licence agreement with TEL. However, this would not provide the Council or Hillsborough Park Charity with the protections derived from the revised licence agreement, nor the financial certainties of the fee structure.

11.1

The committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services and the content of previous reports and were asked to make a decision as to whether to grant Tramlines Events Limited (TEL) a licence for the use of Hillsborough Park for hosting the Tramlines Festival, noting the Heads of Terms of the licence (at Appendix 1), and the fee (at closed Appendix 3), as being on balance, in the best interests of the Hillsborough Park charity.

11.1.1

Members discussed the £10,000 allocation from the fee paid by TEL, that was specifically intended to improve the park for its users. It was noted that repairs made to the park following the 2023 event, including significant groundworks, had cost in excess of this amount. Officers explained that the majority of work carried out in the park since the 2023 event had been paid for by TEL. This new allocation would bring additional benefit.

11.2

RESOLVED: That the Charity Trustee Sub-Committee:-

1.    Agree that hosting of the Tramlines Festival in Hillsborough Park represents a positive and beneficial use of the park bearing in mind the Hillsborough Park Charity objectives.

2.    Approve the license agreement Heads of Terms set out at Appendix 1.

3.    Approve the income to the Charity as set out in the fee schedule at closed Appendix 3 on the basis that it represents and supports positive and beneficial use of Hillsborough Park, having regard to the Charity’s objectives, and will benefit the Hillsborough Park Charity.

4.    Agree to £10,000 of the annual fee being used to improve, replace, or install equipment or facilities to improve the park for the benefit of park users, which would not have otherwise been possible using the Council’s revenue grant to the Hillsborough Park Charity.

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR – 4 Members; AGAINST – 1 Member (Councillor Douglas Johnson); ABSTENTIONS – 0 Members)

11.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

The licence agreement provides protection for the Hillsborough Park Charity and considers the best interests of the park.

11.3.2

The fee schedule provides best value and income certainty for the Hillsborough Park Charity.

11.3.3

Sheffield will continue to benefit from the social, cultural and economic benefits derived from hosting Tramlines.

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

11.4.1

A 10-year agreement was considered. However, it was felt this was too long a period to set out fees for the use of Hillsborough Park and was deemed not to be in the best interests of the charity.

11.4.2

A fee structure that included inflationary increases was considered. However, TEL requested the certainty of a fixed fee and as this would also provide income certainty for the Hillsborough Park Charity, a fixed 5-year fee structure was agreed. This fixed fee is approximately the same amount as would have been received if we had agreed to a lower annual fee and annual inflationary increases of c5%.

11.4.3

There was an option to do nothing and not enter into a revised licence agreement with TEL. However, this would not provide the Council or Hillsborough Park Charity with the protections derived from the revised licence agreement, nor the financial certainties of the fee structure.