A report on a review of the Council’s Guide for Busking and Street Performance in Reading.

The Committee considered a report which gave an update on the Guide for Busking and Street Performance in Reading. The report explained that the Guide had been agreed at the Licensing Applications Committee meeting held on 14 November 2024 (Minute 8 refers) and that the Committee had requested that a further report on the success of the Guide be submitted in due course; the Housing, Neighbourhoods and Leisure Committee was considered to be more appropriate as there were no licensing implications. 

The following documents were attached to the report:

Appendix 1     Existing Guide for Busking and Street Performance in Reading, November 2024;

Appendix 2     Complaints Spreadsheet;

Appendix 3     AI Complaints Analysis & Summary;

Appendix 4     Facebook Comments (responding to the TVP social media post);

Appendix 5     Analysis of the Complaints Spreadsheet by themes.

The report explained that while busking and other forms of street entertainment were important to the vibrancy of the Town Centre. buskers and street entertainers shared the streets with everyone else that lived, worked and visited the town. Certain areas of the town centre, primarily along Broad Street, had been experiencing a high number of loud performances daily, which could have a detrimental effect primarily on the businesses and staff located near to where the performances were taking place. The Council wanted to continue to support opportunities for buskers and street entertainers in the town, but at the same time, the Council also wanted to protect the needs and rights of residents, visitors and businesses.

The report explained that In January 2026 Thames Valley Police (TVP) had requested views from the public on busking via a social media post and whilst there were negative comments, on the whole the feedback had demonstrated a lot of public support for busking and the performers.

The report also explained that Reading BID had confirmed that The Guide had worked well when speaking with buskers who were willing to engage. Reading BID had been tracking reports regarding buskers and street entertainers on a weekly basis, recording complaints coming in via email, verbally, through social media channels, text messages and personally witnessed by BID wardens and other BID staff. Alexa Volker, Reading BID, attended the meeting and gave an example of recent action that had been taken with regard to noise nuisance. In particular, she thanked the Council’s Environmental Protection Team, who had supported the BID quickly and effectively when necessary.

The Council had existing enforcement powers and tools to tackle busking and street entertainment that was causing adverse impacts on the surroundings. However, in practice these powers could only be used in very serious incidences, with officers being required to collate strong evidence over a period that an individual was persistently causing a statutory nuisance or negative impact by acting unreasonably or refusing to co-operate. This perceived lack of enforcement had resulted in a belief that action could not be taken quickly or effectively. It was noted that it would be disproportionate to include busking and street entertainment under the Council’s existing Public Spaces Protection Order

The report therefore suggested that the Council should continue to use The Guide as a tool to help buskers self-regulate and officers would continue to look at using available powers on a case-by-case basis where offences were potentially being committed. In addition, BID would issue further communication plans for continued promotion of The Guide and to engage with performers.

Resolved -   That it be noted that no changes would be made to the Guide for Busking and Street Performance following the review.