Issue details

Purpose of Report: Members agreed a strategic approach to city centre events in March 2025 Executive, including maintaining a wide variety of events, and implementing measures over the short medium and long term to improve the accessibility of the City Centre at these times.

Members asked for further work to be undertaken around the operating hours of the Christmas Market as part of this package of measures. This report explores options and recommends a preferred approach on the basis of accessibility improvements, economic and financial impact, security implications and operational effectiveness.

This work is in the context of forthcoming consultation of a permanent ATTRO, recommended by North Yorkshire Police (NYP) and which has emerged as a crucial consideration in the planning of all city centre events.

The Executive will be asked to:

i.               Consider options around the hours and days of operation of the Christmas Market and the broader implications of these.

ii.              Agree an approach to the 2026 Christmas Market hours and days of operation, and any associated measures required in order for this to be implemented.

Please be aware that the action date for this item has been changed and this item has been deferred from 14 April to 12 May 2026 in order to enable the proper consideration of further information and advice received from North Yorkshire Police.