Councillor Emily Arkell, Cabinet Member for Culture & Leisure, approved conditional, in-principle agreement for Live Nation and Festival Republic Ltd to hire Finsbury Park for multi-event weekends annually between 2028 and 2032. The decision was made after a brief adjournment to consider late stakeholder feedback.

Park Hire Applications for Finsbury Park

The meeting focused on applications from Festival Republic Ltd to hire Finsbury Park for two consecutive three-day multi-event weekends each year from 2028 to 2032. Councillor Arkell, acting as the Cabinet Member for Culture & Leisure, was tasked with making a determination on these applications in line with the Council's Outdoor Events Policy[^1].

The report presented to Councillor Arkell outlined the potential benefits of these events, including significant income generation for the park, which contributes to its maintenance, staffing, and improvements. It was noted that all income generated from events in Finsbury Park is legally required to be spent within the park itself, as per the Open Spaces Act 1906[^2]. The applications were deemed non-key decisions as they were not considered to significantly impact expenditure or the communities across two or more wards.

During the meeting, it was revealed that the Ladder Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) had not received the consultation notification due to an email address change. While the LCSP could not formally support or oppose the contract without consulting its members, ongoing conversations were planned. Edible Landscapes, a community organisation based in the park, raised concerns about amplified music, increased footfall, potential damage to maintained areas, and waste accumulation. Mitigations for these concerns, including noise limits, containment of attendees within the event site, and waste management plans detailed in the Event Management Plan (EMP), were discussed.

Councillor Anna Abela, a local councillor for Harringay ward, highlighted the significant financial pressures facing the council and the importance of event income for maintaining and investing in Finsbury Park. She noted that approximately £1.2 million annually is generated from outdoor events, which is entirely reinvested into the park, covering day-to-day maintenance, new lighting, play spaces, and the Skate Plaza, and supporting 12 dedicated staff members. Councillor Abela also expressed disappointment regarding the consultation process, particularly the oversight concerning the LCSP, and suggested a need for a more open and evidence-led conversation with residents about the balance between income generation and the impact of events. She proposed three points for consideration: minimising noise disturbance and refusing overnight works, exploring a fallow year model for the park to allow land recovery, and reviewing the Outdoor Events Policy, which was adopted in 2014.

In response, it was stated that the council would attend an LCSP meeting. The concept of a fallow year was discussed, with the council noting that Finsbury Park, being an amenity and grass site rather than farmland, might not benefit in the same way as Glastonbury Festival's site. The implications for business models and attracting future organisers were also raised.

Ultimately, Councillor Arkell authorised the Corporate Director of Environment and Resident Experience to approve a conditional, in-principle agreement to hire Finsbury Park to Festival Republic Ltd for the specified events and dates, and to enter into a contract, provided the terms were satisfactory. The decision was made with the understanding that the events would be subject to further detailed discussions with relevant authorities, including Licensing and the Police, before final approval.