Agenda item

The Application:

Application for a new premises licence for the ‘Taste of the Caribbean Festival 2023’.

This was a proposed 2 day festival on the 1st and 2nd of July 2023 from 10:00 hours to 20:00 hours. The event would take place in an enclosed area of the public park on Croydon Road Recreation Ground. It was intended that qualified security staff and stewards would manage the area. The application was in respect of the provision of late-night refreshment.

The application was described as similar to a country fare or a fun-fair, a family event for the young and old. There would be a Metropolitan Police stand at the park.

This would be the second consecutive year that the event was planned to take place at the same venue. Last year it was a one day event. The event was intended for all age groups and would be family focused. There would be food stalls, a bar, arts and craft, children’s play area, medical tent and other stalls and activity areas within the designated area of the park.

Details of the Event Management Plan were noted in the application bundle. There would be live music on a small stage with amplified music, (not from established artists), and background music played by a DJ in between the acts. Music would be played on both days of the event. The anticipated number of attendees would vary between the two days, but approximately not more than 3,000 people at the same time.

The Applicant’s Case:

The Applicant, Damien McClean, began by thanking the Council and residents for another opportunity to bring the event to Bromley. The Applicant mentioned that he had experience in managing events and had managed the previous event last year. The event would only use 50% of the public park. The rest of the park would remain available to members of the public. The Applicant mentioned that the festival was different to other festivals where music and famous artists were the focus and main attraction. This event, however, lended itself to entertain as well as to breakdown social barriers, and to cater for a demographic which was overlooked.

The activities would include, food traders, arts and craft, competitions, puppet shows, stilt walkers etc. Ticket holders would be informed that there was no parking and that they should use public transport. There would be a ‘Disney style’ queuing system. The Applicant was agreeable to the additional Metropolitan Police Conditions and other necessary conditions. A leaflet (flyer) would be sent to the residents living in the vicinity of the park. The leaflet would contain details of a complaint hot line number. Some of the responses to questions to the Applicant were incorporated into the additional conditions. For example, noise nuisance and how it would be monitored, rapid response, hygienic cleaning, parking and taxi pick-up points. With regards to  access to free drinking water etc. There were some other points which were raised which did not directly relate to the Licensing Objectives.

The Licensing Sub-Committee was informed by the Council’s Health, Safety and Licensing Manager that a further meeting to agree the event plan would take place to conclude the fine details as required.

The Objectors’ Case:

The Licensing Sub-Committee received written and oral submissions from three residents. Their concerns can be summarised as follows: Noise which would emanate from the park, the layout plan and the location of the music stage, how best to minimise the noise levels, the use of the park for the festival for two days being far too long, the excessive music that was played (last year) and whether that would be repeated. Questions were also raised regarding the number of persons attending the event (and how that would be monitored), anti-social behaviour, the operational hours of the festival, litter, the disruption as a whole, including when setting up prior to the event and when dismantling equipment after the event, security, and ticket sales.

Some questions from the residents centred on the previous festivals and points which did not relate to the licensing objectives nor to the current application. The Licensing Sub-Committee listened to all parties and to the relevant responses from the applicant.

Reasons for Decision:

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered the application as amended at the  hearing, the written and oral representations, the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and statutory guidance. Members of the Licensing Sub- Committee concluded that the concerns raised would not justify a refusal of the  application. The Applicant had previously held the event successfully in 2022. Furthermore, at the Licensing Sub-Committee, the Applicant showed a willingness to work with the responsible authorities to promote the licensing objectives. There were reasonable methods that would be adopted to control and monitor the numbers attending the event.

The Applicant accepted the relevant conditions, including those which alleviated parking issues. There was sufficient accessible public transport; those attending the festival would be encouraged to use public transport. Designated pick up and drop off points and a rapid response hygienic cleaning were also considered and thereafter formed part of the licensing conditions.

Decision:

The Licensing Sub-Committee decided that the application for a premises licence for Taste of the Caribbean Festival 2023, for a 2 day(s) festival, on the 1st and 2nd of July 2023 from 10:00 hours to 20:00 hours to be permitted as amended at the above Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing. The premises licence was subject to the relevant conditions as follows:

The recommended Metropolitan Police Conditions in Appendix 5 and, to the following conditions which were added at the Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing:

1: The supply of the name and qualifications of the responsible noise management person, as well as the supply of the equipment to be used by the responsible noise management person.

2. An application being made to the Council for a traffic management order for measures to be considered in the following streets, namely Westfield Road, Cedars Road, Durban Road, Belmont Road, Gowland Place, Whitmore Road, Bramerton Road, Croydon Road from the A234 to Bramerton Road, Hayne Road from A234 to Cedars Road and Village Way and; 3. All publicity for the event to include details of public transport to the event by train, bus and tram.

4. Designated pick up and drop off points shall be provided for those that arrive and depart by taxi.

5. A rapid response hygienic cleaning team shall be provided to deal with complaints from the above mentioned surrounding roads.