Decision

That the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance under urgency provisions:
a) Notes the annual review and details set out within the 'Clacton Airshow Review 2025 and Beyond' report that includes further opportunities and activities to support the increased costs of future shows, including the event planned for 2026;
b) Subject to a) above, commits to continuing to provide the region’s premier Airshow in 2026 and 2027 and allocates an additional £46,000 to the Airshow budget in 2026/27 and 2027/28; and
c) Subject to b) above, identifies the most advantageous approach to funding the total two year cost of £92,000 utilising potential opportunities within the outturn position for 2025/2026 and/or Corporate Investment Fund – Revenue as appropriate as part of the wider management of cost pressure / two year financial plan activities.

Reasons for the decision

A cost breakdown of the increases experienced as part of the 2025 event are included in the finance section of the ‘Report of Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance’ dated 5th June 2026, and these will be replicated as part of the hosting of 2026’s event as well as further uncertainties around elements such as fuel costs as a result of global uncertainty. This will bring the net direct cost of the 2026 event to £214,000, after estimated income is taken into account.

Alternative options considered

Other options considered include that the Council could:
Lower the cost of the airshow by reducing the flying programme; however, this would mean a shortened display schedule that increases the vulnerability to a very short airshow, if some of the booked aircraft become unavailable, as has happened in previous years. This will bring reputational impact and increased negative public feedback.
Cancel the event, however, this would bring very substantial reputational implications and take important income out of the local economy.
Some of the increased costs from 2025 could be reviewed, for example the purchase of cancellation insurance, however this would expose the Council to uncertain costs in the event of a cancellation and would be a new risk.