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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

RECORD OF DECISION OF THE Cabinet Member for COMMUNITY AND LEISURE SERVICES

REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT AND REGULATORY SERVICES - MAIDSTONE LEISURE CENTRE, MOTE HALL FREE LETS

Issue for Decision

To consider awarding the five free lets of Mote Hall at Maidstone Leisure Centre in the year April 2011 to April 2012.

Decision Made

That awarding a free let of Mote Hall in the year April 2011 to April 2012, to the following applicants be agreed:

a)  Kent Association for the Blind/Jupiter Workshops Concert

      – 12^th Jun 2011

b)  National Open Roller Skating Competition, Maidstone Roller Skating Club

       – 10^th September 2011

c)   Snap Disco

– 23^rd September 2011

d)  Voices for Hospices, Heart of Kent Hospice Concert

– 8^th Oct 2011

e)  Youth Sport Achievement Awards

– 27^th Jan 2012.

Reasons for Decision

The contract with Maidstone Leisure Trust allows the Council to award up to 5 free lets in each contract year; these entitle applicants free hire of Mote Hall to hold an agreed event.  However, the successful applicant is required to meet any incidental expenses incurred by the Leisure Centre contractor in setting up or clearing away the event.

The following criteria have been used when considering applications: 

The event should be

(a) Sporting or cultural in nature

(b) Unlikely to proceed without the benefit of a free let; and,

(c) Essentially non-fundraising

Applicants for a free let are requested to submit, where appropriate, a copy of their latest audited accounts and an analysis of the anticipated income and expenditure for the proposed event.

Further considerations taken into account are to support activities for young people, and to encourage new events.

This year four of the applications were in joint fourth place with the same overall score against the criteria.  In an attempt to offer a range of activities, and as two lets had already been awarded to concerts it is recommended to award the last two free lets to the Youth Achievement Awards and the Snap Disco.

The scoring and recommendations for free lets in the contract year April 2011 to April 2012 are set out at Appendix A of the report of the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services. 

For illustrative purposes the schedule of recently awarded free lets is set out at Appendix B of the report of the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services.

Alternatives considered and why rejected

Possible alternative actions are to refuse the recommended awarding of free lets, or adjust who the free lets are awarded to

These alternative actions are not recommended as the free let applications have been scored against the agreed criteria.

Background Papers

Submission for Free Lets – held at Maidstone House

Free Lets File – held at Maidstone House