The Overview & Scrutiny Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Tuesday 18 June 2024. The primary item scheduled for discussion was a call in regarding a decision made by the Mayor in Cabinet concerning a Licence to Occupy for Victoria Park.

Victoria Park Licence to Occupy

The committee was scheduled to consider a call in request concerning the Mayor in Cabinet's decision on 16 May 2024, which approved entering into a Licence to Occupy with AEG Presents Limited for events in Victoria Park. This decision had been called in by several councillors, including Councillor Marc Francis, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, Councillor Mohammed Chowdhury, Councillor Asma Begum, and Councillor Sirajul Islam.

The report pack indicated that the call-in was initiated due to concerns that the decision would extend the number of major commercial events in Victoria Park for an additional year, up to 2027. It was also noted that residents and the Friends Group had not been notified of this change. The call-in also raised concerns that the report presented AEG's community engagement as fulfilling the council's consultation obligations and that the decision committed an incoming Executive Mayor to a programme of events for half their term of office.

The proposed alternative course of action suggested by the call-in councillors was for the Mayor to reverse the decision to extend the contract with AEG Presents Limited and to undertake proper consultation with residents before any decision is made.

The committee was scheduled to follow a procedure for considering the call-in, which involved the chair inviting a call-in member to present the case, followed by questions from committee members to both the call-in members and the Cabinet Member. A general debate was then to take place.

The committee had the option to either take no action, which would endorse the original Cabinet decision, or to refer the matter back to the Cabinet with its concerns and potential recommendations.

The report pack also detailed the original decision made by the Mayor in Cabinet on 16 May 2024. This decision included approving the option to enter into a Licence to Occupy with AEG Presents Limited, authorising the Corporate Director of Communities to execute the necessary agreements, and noting the equalities specific considerations. The report highlighted that the proposed extension would enable AEG Presents Limited to deliver events from August 2024 to September 2027, providing three full years of events as originally approved by Cabinet, and would help the Council maintain its parks and open spaces amidst reducing central government grants. The report also noted that the number of event days would remain at the approved level of 11 days of major events per annum, plus community event days and days for assembly and dismantling.

The report pack also included comments from the Chief Finance Officer and Legal Services. The Chief Finance Officer noted that additional income targets for major events were approved as part of the Council's Medium Term Financial Strategy. Legal Services confirmed the Council's power to grant licences for the use of parks under the Local Government Act 1972 and the Localism Act 2011. The report also stated that information relating to AEG Presents Limited's financial and business affairs was exempt from publication.

The report pack also referenced previous Cabinet decisions regarding the Victoria Park Major Events Policy and the current three-year licence to occupy with AEG Presents Limited.

The meeting was scheduled to be held in the Council Chamber at Tower Hamlets Town Hall, 160 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1BJ. The meeting was also to be broadcast live on the Council's website.