Supporting local Remembrance events

Councillors are set to agree an additional £1100 funding to be spent on local Remembrance Weekend events.

Remembrance events in the city are a key civic celebration and the arrangements for financial and operational support have not been reviewed for a number of years. The current funding is no longer adequate to deliver the scale of activities that’s needed.

At the council’s Culture, Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Economic Development Committee on 7 March, councillors are being asked to note the increased costs associated with delivery of the Remembrance activities and agree to increase to the contribution from the current £400 to £1,500, to better support Remembrance Weekend activities identified by the Remembrance Planning Committee.

Councillor Alan Robins, chair of the Culture, Heritage, Sports, Tourism and Economic Development Committee, said: “It’s clear that the current funds are insufficient to provide the Remembrance events that our city deserves.

“We said we’d look into it, and we’ve identified £1500 of ongoing funding to ensure these important community events can continue.

“The council provides a lot of additional support to the management of these activities, so this has also been a good opportunity for us to review and improve the arrangements around security, transport and parking for future events.”

The council currently contributes £400 a year towards the costs of the events organised by the Remembrance Planning Committee, which is made up of over 40 representatives who meet to support preparation for Remembrance ceremonies.

In addition, the council also provides security, traffic management, parking and other support to Remembrance Weekend events. In 2023 this cost was £11,799.13.

Alongside reviewing the council contributions, the council will manage the parking arrangements to ensure the best possible fit for people attending the events and for other residents in the city at the time.

You can read the full Remembrance Planning Committee Funding report on the council’s website.

This report and changes to arrangements are being discussed in response to a deputation presented to the Culture, Tourism and Economic Development Committee on 9 November 2023 from the Remembrance Planning Committee requesting a review of the current budget.