Agenda and draft minutes

Councillor Nicholas Bennett was appointed as Chairman.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Application

The application sought to vary the current licence by extending the licensed hours for the sale of alcohol on the premises from 00.30 to 02.00 hours, recorded music and the provision of late night refreshment from 01.00 until 02.00 hours on Friday and Saturdays. For both recorded music and the provision of light entertainment, the application envisaged a reduction of 30 minutes in the permitted times on Sundays. The application sought to add the provision of live music on Mondays to Wednesdays, between 12.00 to midnight, on Thursdays between 12.00 to 01.00 hours, on Friday and Saturdays between 12.00 to 02.00 hours and Sundays between 12.00 to 23.30 hours. The application stated “We request the additional hour for the main bar only. Terrace operation hours will remain the same. No change to rear of Premises Garden operation / times”.

The Case for the Applicant

The Applicant’s solicitor explained that the intention was for last orders on Friday and Saturdays to be given at 1.30 hours with a winding down period thereafter, and the premises closing at 02.00 hours. After contact with the police his client sought to address the possibility that his customers may leave the premises and walk along the High Street to other venues with later opening hours. The intention of the application is that customers will be able to remain on the premises until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays and there will be no extra journey through the Town Centre. Conditions had been agreed with the police including a requirement that there be a last entry time to the premises of 00.30 hours.

It had been agreed with the Council’s Environmental Health Officer that triple glazing would be installed on the High Street elevation. For financial reasons this could be undertaken within 6 months of the grant of permission. With reference to the objection from the planning department, the applicant had not applied to vary the planning condition or apply for a certificate of lawfulness. However, the planning and licensing regimes were separate. With respect to the Council’s Special Policy of Cumulative Impact, due to the last admission time there would be no additional customers in the premises and therefore no further detrimental impact on licensing objectives. The intention was to reduce the number of people journeys and customers could remain in the premises and not move uphill along the High Street to another premises with later hours. In response to a question, it was confirmed that the noise complaints since July 2023 had not been made in respect of later hours. The business had direct contact with residents living either side of the premises. The number of external smokers would be limited to three persons who would only smoke in a position where a door supervisor was positioned. The premises had operated using TENS in December and January. The premises had engaged a DJ on Fridays and Saturdays, either to the current permitted hours or to the hours permitted by the TENS.

The Case  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

The Application

The application sought a premises licence to supply alcohol at Crystal Palace Park, to provide regulated entertainment including live and recorded music, to provide films, plays and performance of dance. The hours for regulated entertainment and alcohol are Monday to Sunday 11:00hrs to 22:30hrs. The opening hours stated on the application are 10:00 to 23:00 every day.

The proposed conditions submitted with the application stated that the Premises Licence should authorise licensable activity for up to six event days at a maximum capacity 29,999 persons and a further 2 event days at a maximum capacity of 5,000 persons each calendar year between 1st May and 30th September.

A copy of the application form and plan were attached to the agenda in Appendix 1. The application included the area shown red on the plan but excluding the grey shaded area which was the National Sports Centre. During the public consultation, the Council received a total of nine valid objections which were attached to the agenda in Appendix 2.

The Case for the applicant

The Committee was addressed by the Applicant’s solicitor. The Applicant had previously been granted a licence for events in the park which had been held between 2021 and 2023. The current application reflected the experience gained. In particular the maximum capacity sought had been reduced from the previous permitted capacity of 49,999. A change had also been introduced from holding events for a three day festival to a series of individual events.

The Applicant called expert evidence. The earlier events had generated some concern that nearby residential property was being adversely affected by vibrations from the events. It was identified that the source of the vibration was not air based but caused by the audience dancing together in response to the music. This had been difficult to predict and would last for only a few seconds. A solution was achieved by reducing the numbers attending the events and also by repositioning the stage. The result has been a marked reduction in the number of complaints.

In terms of noise issues, the Committee was advised that an improved sound system had been introduced in 2023 which was designed to limit noise spillage from the events. The size of the stage was also reduced and reorientated for this reason also. The events were monitored in terms of noise. The result was a marked reduction in complaints concerning noise over the preceding years since 2021. The conditions required a  noise management plan to ensure this progress was maintained.

A successful transport plan with necessary road closures had been implemented in 2023 with information being circulated to affected properties. In terms of social behaviour, anti-social behaviour measures, a drugs policy, and a security plan with stewards agreed with the police would be secured by condition.

The Applicant had considered the Council’s Licensing Policy that discouraged multiyear applications for large scale events. The application for an indefinite premises licence had been reduced to a 5 year licence. The Applicant felt a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.