Carnival budget could face cuts, council warns

The celebration of Caribbean culture in west London attracts millions each year

Funding for public toilets at the Notting Hill Carnival could be cut due to an £82m hole in the local authority budget.

Conservative-led Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) makes an annual contribution of £1m to help stage the event, which pays for cleaning, licensing and stewarding. This year, the council gave an extra £230,000, which partly paid for toilets.

However, RBKC said this payment was a "one-off" and warned it may not be able to contribute as much money in the future as it seeks to make wide-ranging savings.

The event organiser Notting Hill Carnival Ltd (NHC) said the annual procession was a "vital cultural event" that made £400m for the UK economy.

RBKC has begun a review of all not-statutory services as it faces "significant financial pressures" due to government funding proposals as part of the Fair Funding Review 2.0.

'Bargaining chip'

The Notting Hill Carnival typically attracts two million people each August bank holiday, although it has faced criticism about safety as well as financial challenges in recent years.

Cem Kemahli, RBKC's lead member for finance, said the event was a "fantastic thing to have in the borough" and that it would be a "shame if something like that is used as a complete bargaining chip".

But, Kemahli added that "mature discussions" were needed about potential cost-saving opportunities.

He told a recent overview and scrutiny committee meeting: "We need to be able to budget for this.

"It may be that we're not able to contribute as much, or offer as many toilets as residents may like, but these are going to have to be small decisions in what is a bigger hole."

Labour's Claire Simmons said toilets "aren't a luxury" and shouldn't be considered for the axe".

Liberal Democrat councillor Linda Wade agreed there should be a review of funding for the Notting HIll Carnival as there was a "pressing need to protect frontline services".

A spokesperson for NHC said: "We understand the need for financial reviews within councils and that along with many others, Kensington and Chelsea has many challenges.

"As reported by the GLA earlier this year, Carnival generates £400 million for the UK economy, and also plays a vital role in celebrating Caribbean culture in this country."

The Notting Hill Carnival takes place over the August bank holiday

RBKC has already announced plans to reduce council tax relief for vulnerable residents and to review some of its community hubs.

The council also wants to lease out office space and is carrying out a voluntary redundancy scheme.

Asked for further comment on possible cuts to the carnival funding, RBKC said: "Following the government's Fairer Funding proposals, the council now faces significant financial pressures over the next three years, with budget gaps of around £80m and no decisions have been made about future funding...

"We remain committed to supporting Carnival and will work with the organisers and our partners to put on a safe and successful event in the future."

The government says its proposals aim to make the funding process simpler and change how council funding is calculated.

Earlier this year, organisers of the carnival appealed for additional funding, warning it may not go ahead without it.

Along with RBKC, City Hall and Westminster Council collectively contributed about £1m.