Issue - meetings

The Application

The application was for a new premises licence for the provision of live and recorded music from 13.00 to 23.00 hours every day and the supply of alcohol on the premises from 12.00 to 23.00 hours every day. The application stated that that both amplified, unamplified live and recorded music will be played in the 18m x 6m marquee only.

Case for the Applicant

The owner of the club advised that the cricket club was started in 2005 on a playing field at Colfe school. In 2013 his family acquired the cricket ground in West Common Road. The club relied on voluntary support and sponsorship. There was a constant need to raise money, hence the decision to acquire the marquee. The club has a 1^st X1 and 2^nd X1 playing in the Kent Cricket League. It also had a junior cricket section and was trying to encourage youngsters into cricket. The cricket club also had Sunday football at the ground. If a premises licence was granted, the intention would be that the marquee would be let primarily for Members of the club.  The aim would be not to take bookings for stag or hen parties or for 18/21 birthday parties. Example of the types of functions to be held under the licence would be children’s birthday parties, anniversary parties etc. If a licence was refused the impact on the Club’s finances would be severe and the club may have to sell the ground.

In response to a question as to why the Club Premises Certificate was not sufficient, the Sub-Committee was advised that the applicant wanted to take bookings from the general public. The owner advised that it was difficult to comply with the advance notice requirements for temporary event notices given the cricket club is more a hobby than a business. The applicant was prepared to consider a noise limiter and also using material that might reflect sound back into the marquee. The club was also prepared to accept a limit on the number of events with the indication that 8 events would be the minimum. The maximum capacity of the marquee was between 100-120.

The applicant was surprised by the volume of objections generated by the application. The owner accepted that mistakes had been made. The club was prepared to work with the Council in the future to ensure the events were properly organised. On one occasion the club itself turned off the music when an event organiser failed to respond to a request to turn the music down. The advertising complained of by residents had been discontinued and was not an indicator of the future intentions of the club.

Case for the Objectors

The Council’s public health nuisance team advised that a number of events had been held over the Summer 2023 giving rise to complaints regarding loud music coming from events being held in the Marquee. On 6^th September 2023, a Noise Abatement Notice was served by the Council. The team  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3