Revised Funfair Pricing Arrangements
Background
The rate applied for funfairs in 2012/13 was £159 for each day the funfair operated, with the exception of Roundhay Park where the rate applied was £250 per day. There are occasions where operators can be on site for several days before the funfair and further time afterwards for which no payment is currently made. In 2012, 28 funfairs were cancelled which were in part due to the weather, but also due to the operator deciding not to go ahead at short notice. When this occurs, this not only means that the administrative costs of the application have already been incurred; it also means that the site cannot be booked for an alternative event.
Funfair Pricing
Following consultation and discussion with representatives of the Showmen’s Guild, a pricing proposal has been put together for funfairs in Leeds, with 2 site categories as follows:
· Prime: Roundhay Park
· Community: All other sites
A fee for build up and take down will be applied for the prime site at Roundhay park on a fixed basis allowing 6 days for build up and take down. Community category funfairs will allow 4 days for build up and take down for which no fee will be applied. It should be noted however that any site occupation days beyond 6 days for the prime site and 4 days for community sites will incur a fee at the same rate as the relevant fee to operate for a full day. If for example, an operator wished to hold a funfair from Thursday to Sunday on a community site, Monday to Wednesday would in effect be build up days, with the following Monday a take down day. If however, the operator wished to remain on site to commence operating on the following Thursday, then a site occupation day fee would apply for Tuesday and Wednesday and for the following Monday (assuming the site was vacated on that day).
The pricing structure will also be based on two categories that define the target participants namely ‘adult’ and ‘family’. The adult category is for funfairs primarily targeted at adults and would be licensed to 9pm. The family funfair category is for funfairs targeted at younger children (at primary school age) accompanied by parents or guardian and would be licensed to 6pm. It is also hoped that having a time based category in this way will provide greater clarity when consulting with ward members and the community along with a more flexible approach to pricing whereby for example a funfair could be licensed to 9pm on a weekend and thus attract the adult fee as compared to 6pm on weekdays where the lower family fee would apply.
It is proposed that a list of sites for community funfairs is published each year to make it clear to funfair operators the sites for which applications would normally be accepted. There are a number of reasons why some sites might not be appropriate for funfair operations, often due to historic opposition by the local community, or more fundamental issues with regard to the site location and topography. The proposed sites would still be subject to consultation with ward members.
· East End Park / · Middleton Park· Grove Road Recreation Ground / · Neville Road
· Holbeck Moor / · Nunroyd Park
· Horsforth Hall / · Potternewton Playing Field
· Hunslet Moor / · Scatcherd Park
· Killingbeck Field / · Stanningley Park
· King Georges Field / · The Throstles
· Kippax Recreation Ground
Applications may be considered on other sites, but would be regarded as an exception. In addition, the following sites will accept funfairs only as part of a wider community event:
· Adwalton Moor / · Shayfields· Bramley Park / · The Pastures
· Church Lane, Methley / · Queens Park, Pudsey
· Cross Flatts Park / · Shayfields
Applications will generally be received on a first come first served basis, however it is recognised that there are occasions when a request will be made by more than one operator for the same dates on the same site. For this reason applications from now on are to be made no sooner than 6 months prior to the first operating day set out in the application.
If a funfair operator is concerned that there may be other applications that would coincide with the dates proposed, then the application must be received at the Parks and Countryside offices in Farnley Hall no sooner than 9am and not later than 4pm, 6 months to the day from the first operating day. Should more than one application be received for the same dates then if these dates are appropriate, each applicant will be invited to submit a tender not less than the minimum that would normally be applicable. If 6 months prior to the first operating day falls on a Saturday, then the deadline will be the first working day after this day. Any applications before the 6 month deadline will not be considered, and any received after the deadline will be processed on a first come first served basis.
Applicants who have already had dates confirmed in 2014 prior to publication of this decision will be invited to submit a deposit to secure these dates at the new rates applicable, as set out below. Any new applications for 2014 made after the publication of this decision will be subject to the 6 month time limit.
The pricing model set out in the following table refers to stand alone funfairs that are booked directly with Parks and Countryside for specific operating days.
Proposed Rate per Operating Day / Build Up / Take Down (fixed fee) / Site Occupation per day £ / Deposit: 50% of one full Operating DayPrime: adult / £300 / £270 / £300 / £150
Prime: family / £250
Community: adult / £200 / £0 / £200 / £100
Community: family / £175
As indicated in the above table, the pricing proposals account for build up and take down days with a fixed fee based on 6 days at the prime site. Any further days that funfair operators occupy the site attract a fee equivalent to each full operating day. A cheque for the deposit should be sent with the application which will only be banked on confirmation that the dates requested have been secured. The deposit is non-refundable if a funfair operator chooses to cancel the funfair; however if the Council cancels (e.g. due to the weather), then the deposit would be refunded. If a change of date is requested that falls more than 7 days from the original application, then a new application will need to be made for which a deposit is applicable. Date changes will only be considered if appropriate, and do not clash with any other event.
These prices apply to stand alone funfairs which typically include traditional funfair rides, stalls (such as ‘hook a duck’ and coconut shy), and catering concessions which should collectively account for more than 80% of the land used. Ancillary attractions such as Punch and Judy, donkeys, sand pit, inflatable rides, can also be included within the remaining site footprint.
Funfair themed events that include arena shows (often with external providers) would be classed as an event and subject to the commercial event application process and pricing.
Consultation
The Showmen’s Guild has been consulted at each stage as pricing proposals have been developed. A meeting originally took place in May 2012 with representatives of the Guild including the Chair and Vice Chair to discuss proposed increases in funfair charges. Two further meetings took place following which agreement was made on the revised charges set out in this document.