The Coalville Special Expenses Working Party met on Wednesday 11 February 2026 to discuss the 2026/27 events programme and receive an update on the 2025/26 Christmas events. The working party noted the progress made on the 2025/26 events and the draft programme for the upcoming year.

Events Update 2026/27

The working party received a report detailing the 2025/26 Christmas in Coalville and Christmas Lights Programme, which was presented by Paul Wheatley, Head of Property and Regeneration. The report confirmed that all events in the 2025/26 programme had been delivered as planned and within budget. The Christmas in Coalville event, held on 29 November 2025, featured festivities in the town centre, including a food and drink market, children's rides, and live music. Despite heavy rain, footfall was steady, with a significant number of attendees for the Christmas Light Switch On. The Christmas lights programme included decorations across the town centre, such as a Nordmann Christmas tree in Memorial Square and lights on lamp posts.

Planning for the 2026/27 events programme is underway, with no immediate assumptions made about increases or decreases in budget or officer capacity. The draft programme for 2026/27 includes a Music and Picnic in the Park event on 4 and 5 July 2026 in Coalville Park, estimated to cost £20,000. This event is planned as a free family event with live music, craft and food stalls, and local charity stalls. The draft programme also includes Christmas in Coalville on 28 November 2026, with an estimated budget of £14,600, and Coalville Christmas Decorations from 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with an estimated budget of £30,000. The report noted that the provision of events and festive lighting is a discretionary service, and the working party recommends events to the Cabinet based on the available budget. The report also highlighted that the provision of these events contributes to pride in the town centres and generates additional expenditure within the local area. The council's commitment to the Zero Carbon agenda is supported through local events and the renewal of Christmas lighting stock to reduce energy consumption.

The working party was informed that the summer event in Coalville Park in 2026/27 is proposed for 4 and 5 July 2026, with suppliers being contacted for quotes. The Health and Wellbeing team is also collaborating on options to enhance the Saturday afternoon event in Coalville Park, leading into the evening Music in the Park event. The officer time costs for delivering the draft programme will be included in the budget-setting process. The report was noted, and members were thanked for their comments.

The minutes of a subsequent meeting on 2 June 2026 indicate that further discussions took place regarding the 2026/27 events programme. Members discussed logistics for Christmas in Coalville, including road closures and building works. The Head of Property and Economic Regeneration agreed to investigate the feasibility of placing Christmas lighting on scaffolding as an alternative to building-mounted lights. Feedback from residents led to plans for the event to run later into the evening, with additional entertainment such as an ice rink and a snowdome. The report was noted, and members were thanked for their comments.