Decision

RESOLVED that:

A     £750,000 be transferred from the Regeneration and Enterprise earmarked reserve to the Discretionary Services Fund.

B     The 2026-27 community events budget be increased by £750,000, to be funded from the Discretionary Services Fund.

Reasons for the decision

To enable the planned programme of community events to be safely delivered in 2026-27.

Alternative options considered

Scale back the planned programme of events to fit the available budget envelope - Given levels of public expectation and the advanced state of planning for the Town Show, this is not considered to be a feasible option.

Increase sponsorship and income generation - Opportunities for raising additional income from sponsorship and charging for activities have already been maximised.