A report providing a further update on plans for Reading Festival 2023.

Further to Minute 22 of the meeting held on 9 November 2022, the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report updating the Committee on proposals to improve the Festival and providing an overview of the event which was in its planning phase for 2023.

The report explained that the capacity of the Festival would remain unchanged, as would the main arena layout.  Changes for 2023 included replacing Challenge 21 with Challenge 25 to give a margin of safety when trying to prevent the sale of alcohol to under 18s, the introduction of key points within the campsite areas to be used as check points and friendly, approachable sites for information, support and assistance, and an increase in the number of Safeguarding officers as part of the Festival Republic team to ensure a 24-hour response throughout the event.  The eco-campsite had proved very popular and would be double the size for the 2023 event.  This would be the first event to implement a no campfire policy, with no firewood allowed on site.

The report added that Festival Republic had responded to questions raised by the Committee at the meeting in November 2022.  Festival Republic’s social media team were keen to explore how all partners social media could be used proactively and positively to reassure or respond to community forums or group pages on social media.  This subject was part of this year’s planning meeting agendas and would remain so as Festival Republic learnt more about how these platforms could be used positively to support the community.  Festival republic were also working with partners and vendors both on-site and nearby to prevent underage sales of vapes and to ensure that the disposable devices were recycled.  The provision of a Thames Valley Police boat on the river during the 2022 event had been very useful during the run up and throughout the event had an ongoing impact after the event and this would continue as part of the plan for this year’s event.

The report also set out details of emissions from waste, specifically the incineration of non-recyclable material, which are classified as Scope 3 emissions, using DEFRA conversion factors which were used by UK companies as standard to report greenhouse gas emissions.  ?They applied the same factor for recycling and combustion of 21.280 kg CO2e / tonne of waste and details are set out in the table below: ?

The report explained that total waste reduced from 2021 was 42 tonnes (5.07%) and non-recyclable waste (including tents) was sent to Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) or Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF).  The Material Recovery Facility (MRF) that processed the festival waste reported a 55.05% recycling rate during the period between 22nd August – 16th September (53% in 2021).  Festival Republic also included water and wastewater processing as part of the on-site Scope 3 emissions, which gives a total of 74.6 tonnes CO2e compared to the 2021 scope 1, 2 & 3 total of 452 tonnes CO2e.  It was estimated that 38% of tents were left behind during 2022 which was a 21% decrease on the previous event.

Resolved:     That the report be noted.