Appendix 1
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Scrutiny Management Board
16th October 2008
Saint George’s Day Parade
1.
Summary
Statement
1.1 The Shows and Events Team within Cultural Services support the Stone
Cross Saint George’s Association in the safe facilitation of a Parade
between Stone Cross and Dartmouth Park in West Bromwich to celebrate
Saint George’s Day.
1.2 Direct costs of £9,500 are met by the Council to fund Health and Safety
requirements to hold a safe Parade; this represents 28% of the total cost
of £34,000 spent on the trilogy of Saint George’s Day events.
1.3 This report examines how this Parade fits into the wider programme of
events and its’ impact upon community cohesion.
Further details are attached for your information
2.
Recommendation 2.1 That the Scrutiny Management Board receive and consider the detail of
The Report
Keith Heyes
Head of Cultural Services
Contact Officer
Tony Potter
Events Manager
0121 569 4703
Saint George’s Day Parade
3.
Strategic Resource Implications
3.1 £9,500 in revenue supports the Parade to ensure a safe and controlled
Event.
3.2 Approximately 30 officer hours are dedicated to the preparation and
management of the Event.
3.3 There are no implications for the Council’s material assets.
4.
Legal and Statutory Implications
4.1 As a co-organiser of the event, the Council shares responsibility for the
health and safety aspects of the Parade and the other associated events.
5.
Implications for the Council’s Priorities
5.1 This Report links into the Council’s Corporate Priority of safer, cleaner,
active communities.
6
Background
Details
6.1 The Saint George’s Day Parade started ten years ago as a small, low key
event by a group of patriotic Englishmen who wanted to recognise the
National Day of our Patron Saint.
6.2 Over the years the numbers joining the Parade grew until it became
obvious to both the Council and the Police that safety was now a major
issue.
6.3 The Council was also in receipt of a number of petitions raised by
residents of the Borough requesting that they organise an event to mark
Saint George’s Day, similar to that facilitated by Birmingham Council to
recognise Saint Patrick’s Day.
6.4 On the instruction of members the Events Team (then under the umbrella
of Environment Direct) organised a Saint George’s Fun Day in Dartmouth
Park and a Concert in West Bromwich Town Hall. The Events Team was
also directed to work with the Parade organisers (now constituted as the
Stone Cross Saint George’s Association) to ensure that the Parade was
managed in a safe and secure environment.
6.5 Current costs associated with this series of events are as follows:
• Parade - £9,500
• Concert - £500
• Fun Day - £16,500
• Global - £7,500
6.6 This trilogy of events was marketed with the strapline “Forever England,
For Everyone”, with a published aim of reclaiming the Flag of Saint
George back from the associated nationalistic connotations and making it
a source of pride for the entire population of Sandwell.
6.7 During the years that the Council and the Stone Cross Saint George’s
Association have been working together on the event numbers
participating have risen from an estimated 5,000 in the first year to 15,000
at its peak in 2006.
6.8 As with any large gathering the Parade has not been without its problems;
increasingly the consumption of alcohol on the route together with
urinating in public became an issue. In 2008 the three major bodies
involved in organising the Parade (Council, Police and Association)
launched a major publicity/education programme in an attempt to deal
with the problem (See Appendix One) and hammered home the “No
Alcohol” message in all press releases and advance publicity for the
event. It is pleasing to report that this message was taken on board with a
massive reduction in anti-social behaviour.
6.9 The 2008 event saw another disturbing incident where the Parade was
infiltrated by an uninvited band which it appears have paramilitary roots,
and this inspired some objectionable chanting. It must be emphasised
that the two bands invited to join the Parade were the West Midlands Fire
Service and the Northfield Caledonia Pipe Bands. This third band were
uninvited, and would have been prevented from participating if their
antecedents had been known.
6.10 The Saint George’s Day Trilogy is one of four major core events
organised by the Council’ the other three being:
• Historic Vehicle Show
• Sandwell Community Show
• Bonfire
New for 2008 was the first Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration in
the Borough, and other smaller events include the Christmas Carol
Concert and Organ Recitals.
6.11 Support for other sections within the Council for events is given to:
Sandwell Children’s Festival
Looked After Children’s Event
Remembrance Day Parades
Tipton Muslim Centre (Community Fun Day)
6.12 Support for non-Council organisations is given to:
Friends of Haden Hill Park (May Day Event)
Friends of Redhouse Park (Community Fun Day)
Guru Nanak Gurdwara (Vaisakhi Parade)
High Street Festival Committee (Smethwick High Street Festival)
6.13 Cultural Services support a wide-ranging and diverse programme of
events, one of which is the Saint George’s Day Parade.
APPENDIX ONE
“No Alcohol, Please” is the request from Parade
Organisers
Planning is already well underway for the Sandwell Saint George’s Day Parade
2008, which this year takes place on Sunday 20th April.
One issue raising concerns with the Event Organisers is the amount of alcohol
being consumed during the Parade, and the resulting unacceptable level of
anti-social behaviour.
The streets and parks of Sandwell are designated alcohol-free zones, which
means that as well as having alcoholic drinks confiscated, people flouting the
ban will be liable for a £80 Fixed Penalty Notice.
Sandwell MBC Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Councillor Mrs. Linda
Horton, said, “ The Saint George’s Day Celebrations are meant to be an
opportunity for families to have fun and enjoy themselves while marking the
National Day of our Patron Saint; drinking alcohol to excess has no place at this
event.”
Mark Cowles from the Stone Cross Saint George’s Association said, ”As co-
organisers we are really concerned about the effect that people drinking alcohol
on the route and in the park will have on the future of the event; continued anti-
social behaviour will threaten the very existence of what we have worked so
hard over many years to achieve in making our Parade the biggest and best in
the country.”
Inspector Mark Cooper from the West Midlands Police said, “This event has
grown in size over recent years and it is imperative that the community and
people attending can enjoy the event free from crime and disorder. I implore
people to refrain from bringing alcohol and drinking to excess to ensure that this
event continues to be a success for all concerned.”
All three people closely involved with the planning for this years Saint George’s
Day Celebration are united in one request – “No alcohol, please!”
Contact Officer
Tony Potter
Sandwell MBC Events Manager
(0121) 569 4703
