Use of Public Open Space for Events and Filming

Overview

We would like your views on how public open spaces in Edinburgh, that are controlled by the Council, are used for events and filming.

Stakeholders, including event and filming organisers, community councils, resident groups, business groups, friends’ groups, Council officers and interested individuals, have collaboratively engaged to develop and recommended key principles for the use of public open space.

This consultation is seeking your views on these recommended key principles and will help Culture and Communities Committee make a decision on them in Summer 2022.

The key principles will not apply to the following types of event, where different considerations and protocols apply:

• Demonstrations such as marches, protests and political rallies.
• State ceremonies such as coronations, state funerals.
• National celebrations such as celebrations of sporting and other achievements of national significance.

Background

A structured and extensive consultation exercise into events and the use of public open space was carried out in 2016 and learning from this exercise was reflected in the Public Spaces Protocol, introduced in 2018.

The Edinburgh Parks Events Manifesto was first published in 2010 and has been developed as a strategic and proactive approach to the planning and managing of events within Edinburgh’s parks and green spaces.

Edinburgh’s commitment to Filming in Edinburgh is sealed in the Film Charter and operational information and advice is detailed in the Code of practice for Filming in Edinburgh.

The Edinburgh Parks Events Manifesto and Public Space Protocol both have the same goals:

to protect, maintain and enhance the built and natural environment, while also balancing the desire for events and activities with the need for the city to function for the wide range of people who live, work in and visit the city.

The Management Plan

The Management Plan for the use of public open space for events and filming will combine public spaces and parks into one document and will set out key principles (this consultation is on those recommended) and guidelines for how the city’s public spaces can be used. It will set out how Edinburgh will manage public open spaces (parks, greenspace, roads, plazas, squares under Council control) for events and filming.

Why your views matter

Stakeholders, including event and filming organisers, community councils, resident groups, business groups, friends’ groups, Council officers and interested individuals, have collaboratively engaged to develop these recommended key principles. We would like your views on them.

The findings from this consultation will be reported to the Culture and Communities Committee in Summer 2022 and will help making a decision on the key principles and guidelines to be implemented.