Brockwell Park: Annual Cannabis March & Festival 5th June 2004

[Brixton Hatter]

The Tories don't want the festival in Lambeth but we've got it, hahaha! Coming down for a smoke with us, Mr BC?

Now come on BH, mr BC's one of their more reasonable people!

Yes, ok, fairplay, I put my hands up I was just being mischevious. I know Mr BC is ok and has contributed some decent stuff here.


Still - wouldn't it be interesting if we had a Conservative BC attend the festival to show their support for the cause, even if they themselves weren't a smoker?

 

[TeeJay]

YES! Great to see that it's confirmed for Brockwell Park after all - a feat to be proud of I think, esp after the tories wasted loads of public cash on trying to prosecute Shane for last year's festival. The Tories don't want the festival in Lambeth but we've got it, hahaha!

Hehehe - Mr and Mrs Whelan deny everything - didn't he actually say they are pro-cannabis even? Well - I wonder which of the local Labour, Lib Dem or Tory VIP/politicians will come and show a bit of solidarity? Keith Hill? Or maybe some of the more "hip" Lib Dems from Southwark?

 

[Blagsta]

I've got the Monday off! Yay!

 

[LDR]

Love this group pic of some of us from 2002.

That's the first time I've ever seen that picture.

 

[Dubversion]

oh, this from the grumpy bastard who was threatening to hold a rival 'vodka day' anti-Jayday event last year!

and i think you'll find a managed perfectly well. the fact that i chose to hold it IN THE SAME PLACE as Jay-Day is an irrelevance. i smoked no hash but i did drink a FUCK of a lot of vodka.

 

[Mr BC]

Still - wouldn't it be interesting if we had a Conservative BC attend the festival to show their support for the cause, even if they themselves weren't a smoker?

Is someone offering to buy me a pint then?

 

[Brixton Hatter]

I'm sure that can be arranged. Hope to see you there!

 

[Streathamite]

Is someone offering to buy me a pint then?

on me, as I owe you thanks anyway (and as both hendo and Ms T were merciful on my round last night)

 

[milesy]

Love this group pic of some of us from 2002.

i'm surprised i managed to survive that day, i had to end up running home through the park at one point....

mushrooms

 

[Bond]

i'm surprised i managed to survive that day, i had to end up running home through the park at one point....

mushrooms

Yeah remember while you and the Cambridge crew went back to yours I ended up at William's when him and Stig had just got together - the memories!

Looking forward to this one, let's hope there's a good afterparty as well, don't particularly fancy the Hob.

 

[Maggot]

Shouldn't this thread be in the music and festies forum? Especially as people come from far and wide for it, and you now have to be a Brixtonite to post here .

Looking forward to it

i smoked no hash but i did drink a FUCK of a lot of vodka.

I can vouch for that after seeing your amazing zig-zag walk

 

[Velouria]

I may be down for it (and indeed up for it) accommodation permitting

Almost tempted to line up some job interviews down there too (Currently having a shit time at work )

Oh shit, hope my boss doesn't surreptitiously read urban75

 

[shaneC]

Cannabis Festival Update

Whilst the march is definately on, we still need to come to agreement with Lambeth Parks over the cost of using the Park.

Over the year they have increased the cost of using Brockwell Park to £1.80 per head. This can be reduced by 50% if the event is put on by a community / not for profit group. In the past we have always been recognised as a non commercial group - by Parks and Regulatory Services (for the Ents Licence). This year Parks say we are a political event and therefore they are trying to charge us £9,000. This we cannot afford.... If there is a not for profit 50% discount then we can afford £4,500, - although we still have to raise it.

We are having a meeting with Parks to make our case on April 20th and also on Tuesday 20th April there is the Entertainment Licencing Meeting 6.30pm at Lambeth Town Hall Rm 8. Support needed. Meeting is open to the public to please come and support the application to dance and entertain.

more info www.thecannabisfestival.co.uk

 

[editor]

That's the first time I've ever seen that picture.

The cheeky wascals have half-inched the pics from urban75!

You can find the originalshere and here

Shane: you're welcome to freely use as many of my pics as you like, but can I have wee credit, if you please!

 

[shaneC]

If that is from the festival website then i'll ask webmaster to credit U75.
Apologies, many thanks and top photos.

 

[William of Walworth]

Whilst the march is definately on, we still need to come to agreement with Lambeth Parks over the cost of using the Park.

Over the year they have increased the cost of using Brockwell Park to £1.80 per head. This can be reduced by 50% if the event is put on by a community / not for profit group. In the past we have always been recognised as a non commercial group - by Parks and Regulatory Services (for the Ents Licence). This year Parks say we are a political event and therefore they are trying to charge us £9,000. This we cannot afford.... If there is a not for profit 50% discount then we can afford £4,500, - although we still have to raise it.

We are having a meeting with Parks to make our case on April 20th and also on Tuesday 20th April there is the Entertainment Licencing Meeting 6.30pm at Lambeth Town Hall Rm 8. Support needed. Meeting is open to the public to please come and support the application to dance and entertain.

more info www.thecannabisfestival.co.uk

Best of luck shane!!

 

[Bond]

Best of luck shane!!

Seconded.

Good meeting you for the first time last night as well.

 

[squashed friend]

Can I third that!

I'll be there

 

[Streathamite]

Whilst the march is definately on, we still need to come to agreement with Lambeth Parks over the cost of using the Park.

Over the year they have increased the cost of using Brockwell Park to £1.80 per head. This can be reduced by 50% if the event is put on by a community / not for profit group. In the past we have always been recognised as a non commercial group - by Parks and Regulatory Services (for the Ents Licence). This year Parks say we are a political event and therefore they are trying to charge us £9,000. This we cannot afford.... If there is a not for profit 50% discount then we can afford £4,500, - although we still have to raise it.

We are having a meeting with Parks to make our case on April 20th and also on Tuesday 20th April there is the Entertainment Licencing Meeting 6.30pm at Lambeth Town Hall Rm 8. Support needed. Meeting is open to the public to please come and support the application to dance and entertain.

more info www.thecannabisfestival.co.uk

right, soddit, I'll be there

 

[TeeJay]

Whilst the march is definately on, we still need to come to agreement with Lambeth Parks over the cost of using the Park.

Over the year they have increased the cost of using Brockwell Park to £1.80 per head. This can be reduced by 50% if the event is put on by a community / not for profit group. In the past we have always been recognised as a non commercial group - by Parks and Regulatory Services (for the Ents Licence). This year Parks say we are a political event and therefore they are trying to charge us £9,000. This we cannot afford.... If there is a not for profit 50% discount then we can afford £4,500, - although we still have to raise it.

We are having a meeting with Parks to make our case on April 20th and also on Tuesday 20th April there is the Entertainment Licencing Meeting 6.30pm at Lambeth Town Hall Rm 8. Support needed. Meeting is open to the public to please come and support the application to dance and entertain.

more info www.thecannabisfestival.co.uk

This is fundementally a political decision - do people think that the cannabis festival is a not-for-profit event or not? All the evidence points clearly to it being not-for-profit and free events for the people of Lambeth must be welcomed, especially if they are organised and put on in a sensitive way and with dialogue with other park users and local residents.

I would really love to hear what the people of Lambeth think about having a free event in Brockwell Park? Do they think it should be charged the full 100% commercial rate or the reduced 50% rate? I'd love the South London Press to run an opinion poll. What do the 60-plus local councillors think? I'd love to know if they support the free cannabis festival or not, and if they think it should be charged the full 100% commercial rate just like any other money-making business enterprise that seeks to hire out Lambeth property for private functions or to make money, or if they feel that it should get the 50% not-for-profit rate?

Has anyone here got any contact with their local Lambeth councillors? What is the Lib Dem line on this? What about the Labour party line on this? I wonder if someone could even get an opinion out of Tessa Jowell who is the MP for Brockwell Park after all.

I will see if I can find out what some of these people think about this, and if they think it should be charged at 50% or the full commercial rate and try and let people know what their local councillor believes and is doing about it. If anyone else could do this as well it would be excellent!

 

[William of Walworth]

Good post TeeJay (and apologies for my wrecked insults on Saturday!! )

What does Mr BC think, and others who know more than me about the inner workings of Lambeth Council?

 

[Streathamite]

teejay-the key wards are Coldharbour (3 labour, and I'm told the 2 Sharons, Ward & Erdman, are quite good) and Herne Hill (3 Labour, don't know f-all about 'em).
the chances of getting anything even remotely useful out of Jowell or that Useless placewoman Hoey are zero, but I feel that useful political pressure can be brought to bear on the councillors. this is a marginal now, and both Lab and Lib have a huge vested interest in currying favour with Brixton voters-and my bet is that JayDay is a vote winner
So-I can think of Five Coldharbour people and 2 Hill-ites, without even trying.
full list of councillors
so-get writing

 

[newbie]

Over the year they have increased the cost of using Brockwell Park to £1.80 per head. This can be reduced by 50% if the event is put on by a community / not for profit group. In the past we have always been recognised as a non commercial group - by Parks and Regulatory Services (for the Ents Licence). This year Parks say we are a political event and therefore they are trying to charge us £9,000. This we cannot afford.... If there is a not for profit 50% discount then we can afford £4,500, - although we still have to raise it.

How does this make sense? How does the fact that they want to call it a political event turn it from being not-for-profit into being commercial. Surely the whole point about a political event is that it's not commercial?

How can an event without an entry charge be commercial?
What other political events are held in Lambeth parks?
Are events such as the Mela or the kite day on Streatham Common counted as commercial or community?

 

[TeeJay]

Good post TeeJay (and apologies for my wrecked insults on Saturday!! )

Hehe. No problem!

 

[TeeJay]

How does this make sense? How does the fact that they want to call it a political event turn it from being not-for-profit into being commercial. Surely the whole point about a political event is that it's not commercial?

How can an event without an entry charge be commercial?
What other political events are held in Lambeth parks?
Are events such as the Mela or the kite day on Streatham Common counted as commercial or community?

Yestreday I phoned up Lambeth Parks and asked for the written criteria they use to determine if a groups is a not-for-profit or community group, or whatever term they use to describe the discounted category. I was told that my request would be passed on to the relevant person and I can expect a reply "in the next few days". As soon as I get a reply I will post it here. Obviously if LBL have a schedule of charges and a park use policy, they will need to have clear (and possibly legally binding?) criteria for who qualifies under the not-for-profit category. However, in the abscence of any such criteria it might be at the discretion or within the power of a council officer, using some sort of general guidelines perhaps. It might be that there is guidance on this issue provided by central government or the association of local government or some other body. If there is then it should be clear enough whether the cannabis festival qualifies or not. If there isn't then presumably the judgement rests with an individual or group of people, although so far noone at the council has been willing or able to name these people. I wonder how we could find out?

It would also be nice if they could itemise their charges, since they have said that part of the payment includes a 'damage deposit' but they have not specified how much this is. They have also said they have conducted a risk assessment in drawing up the charges and costs that will be incurred by the council over the event, so it would be helpful to see this also. Obviously Lambeth Parks may well want to provide staff (and equipment and notebooks and pens) to monitor the event on the day and will incur various other costs and it is only fair that even community and not-for-profit events cover these costs incurred. It is, after all, important that accurate records are kept of what is going on.

 

[TeeJay]

I have just sent this email to Cllr Jim Dickson [email protected]
__________________________________________________________________

Dear Mr Dickson,

I am writing to ask your opinion concerning the charges for use of Brockwell Park for the forthcoming Cannabis Festival on May 8th. It seems that the council are as yet undecided as to whether they should charge the full 100% commercial rate of £9,000 park fees or the not-for-profit 50% rate. As you know the festival is a not-for-profit event and it is provided to the public entirely free of charge. The accounts for the 2003 festival are here: http://www.thecannabisfestival.co.uk/budget.html

As one of the local councillors for Herne Hill ward, which includes Brockwell Park, I would be very interetsed in your view of the festival and on the possibly charges. I look forward to hearing from you.
__________________________________________________________________

I'll let everyone know when I get a reply.

 

[Streathamite]

right, Local Democracy update!
parks etc are accountable to You, The People in 2 ways- the Finance & environment Scrutiny sub-committee (comparable to a select committee); chaired by Cllr Bernard Gentry (Con, Clapham Town), but I believe Sharon ward also sits on this one, and the environment committee (there to decide, not scrutinise) chaired by Claire whelan (Con, Thurlow park ie Norwood). THAT'S where to apply the thumbscrews!

 

[Rollem]

right, i've decided i am deffo giving the march a miss, due to being a pregnant wuss who can't walk at such a slow pace for so long - will have to get brixton hatter to carry a cardboard cut-out of me along with him or something

see you all in the park though for sure.......assuming we are allowed in the park that is

good luck shane, keep us posted

 

[TeeJay]

The following document http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/003853.pdf
(last updated 1st April 2004) includes the following:

FINANCE & ENVIRONMENT SERVICES SCRUTINY SUB-COMMITTEE
Five members.

Liberal Democrat (2)
Cllr Geoff Bowring [email protected] (Oval ward)
Cllr John Pindar [email protected] (Thornton ward)

Conservative (1)
Cllr Bernard Gentry (Chair) [email protected] (Clapham Town ward)

Labour (2)
Cllr Sharon Ward (Vice-Chair) [email protected] (Coldharbour ward)
Cllr Lib Peck [email protected] (Thornton ward)

 

[TeeJay]

see you all in the park though for sure.......assuming we are allowed in the park that is

If the council refuse the license then presumably there will be a giant jayday picnic. The park is not being closed, and the license only relates to permission to set up the stages and put on entertainments etc. Whatever else happens the march is going ahead and I am sure people can work out a whole bunch of ways to legally entertain themselves and any visiters and guests to Lambeth in our lovely Brockwell Park on a gourgeous Saturday afternoon in May!

I've got a feeling, however, that the people of Lambeth don't want the council cancel this festival. If only there was a way that local people could democratically vote on it or something.