The Committee considered a report that proposed the adoption of a Town Centre Busking and Street Performance Guide for Reading and sought approval to conduct a public consultation exercise on the proposed draft Guide. The following documents were attached to the report:

·                Appendix 1 – Reading BID Consultation Exercise Results;

·                Appendix 2 – Draft Guide for Busking and Street Performance in Reading;

·                Equality Impact Assessment; and

·                Climate Impact Assessment.

The report explained that busking and other forms of street entertainment were important to the vibrancy of the town centre.  The report recognised buskers, street entertainers and other groups shared the streets with those who lived, worked, and visited the town.  In certain areas of town a high number of loud, amplified performances were experienced daily. Such performances could have a detrimental affect primarily on businesses and their staff located near to where the performances took place. The report stated that Reading Business Improvement District (BID) and the Council regularly received complaints from businesses in Broad Street and from members of the public about such activities.  The enforcement powers available to the Council to tackle problem performers, however, were limited and dependant on the type of activity that was taking place.

The proposed draft Guide for Busking and Street Performance in Reading had been designed to balance the needs of performers with those of residents, workers, shoppers, visitors and other people using the town centre through adopting guidelines which were intended to encourage good community practice. It was anticipated the guidance and light touch approach would help to reduce complaints and help to resolve concerns amicably. The draft Guide had been produced as a joint initiative between the Council and Reading BID and utilised best practice examples from across the country.

The report proposed that a public consultation exercise be conducted to seek the views of businesses, residents, street performers and other stakeholders to help inform a final version of the Guide that would then be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee at which a decision would be taken on whether to adopt and implement the Guide.

Resolved:

(1)           That the draft Guide for Busking and Street Performance in Reading be approved for public consultation;

(2)           That a further report be submitted to a future meeting on the adoption of a final Guide for Busking and Street Performance in Reading having taken the results of the public consultation exercise into account.