Agenda item

(Director of Neighbourhoods) To consider the attached report.

The three Councillors that presided over this item were Councillors P Keska (Chairman), L Hughes and R Morgan.

 

The Chairman introduced the members and officers present and outlined the procedure that would be followed for the determination of the application. The Chairman welcomed Ms K Bone, the applicant, and Ms M Ray for PX Plus Hospitality Ltd, and Mr O Harding, the venue representative. Also in attendance was the Essex Police Licensing Officer, Mr P Jones.

 

(a)          Application before the Sub-Committee

 

The Licensing Compliance Officer, D Houghton, introduced the application. The application was made by Ms K Bone of PX Hospitality Plus for a new premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003 at New House Farm, Sheering Lower Road, Sawbridgeworth CM21 9LE. The application was for a four-day event from Friday 24 August 2018 to Monday 27 August 2918 and for the provision of the following:

 

Live Music

Friday 17.00 to 23.00

Saturday 12.00 to 14.00 then 17.00 to 23.00

Sunday 12.00 to 14.00 then 17.00 to 23.00

Monday 12.00 to 18.00

 

Recorded Music

Friday 10.00 to 01.00am

Saturday 10.00 to 01.00am

Sunday 10.00 to 01.00am

Monday 10.00 to 23.00

 

Late night Refreshment

Friday 23.00 to 02.00am

Saturday 23.00 to 02.00am

Sunday 23.00 to 02.00am

 

Sale of Alcohol

Friday 15.00 to 01.30am

Saturday 10.00 to 01.30am

Sunday 10.00 to 01.30am

Monday 10.00 to 15.00

 

The application had been received on 26 March 2018. The Operating Schedule in the agenda had set out the conditions which would be attached to the licence if this application was granted.

 

The responsible authorities had been consulted, it was also advertised at the premises and in a local newspaper. All residences and businesses within 150 metres radius of the premises had been individually consulted. The Council had received three representations from Sheering Parish Council, Essex Police and the Council’s Environment and Neighbourhoods (EN) Manager, R Gardiner. The objections related to the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance and public safety.

 

(b)       Presentation of the Applicant’s Case

 

The applicant, Ms K Bone, said that she was organising a four-day hospitality event which would only be attended by people who worked for companies involved with hospitality businesses, such as, chefs, wine buyers, food producers / suppliers etc. There would be over eighty headline acts from chefs, farmers, bakers and suppliers. There would also be four live music acts a day. This was a food festival with headliners also coming from Europe. The Operations Team were all involved in the hospitality industry with over a 100 years experience between them in that field and they were collectively putting on this event.

 

(c)       Questions for the Applicant from the Sub-Committee

 

The Sub-Committee asked if there could be a break between 15.00 – 18.00 hours when non-alcoholic drinks would only be served and to confirm alcoholic drinks would only be served up to 01.30 hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The applicant replied that there would be a gastronomic event for people attending which would cost £100. This would be a long dining event and therefore longer hours had be submitted in this application. Tickets would be sold in advance to cover the whole event, and not as day tickets or sold at the venue. There would be an application process, so applicants would have to state where they worked, their position and her team would check their credentials were valid. The event was aimed at CEOs and heads of relevant businesses. Hopefully there would be around a 1,000 participants, but no more than 2,000. It was anticipated that around 30 per cent would be travelling by car and would park in a designated area on the site. For those arriving by train (60 per cent), a special shuttle bus would be in operation from Harlow Town Station direct to the venue. There should be no people walking to the venue. The event would be providing ten acres on site for free camping, and ‘glamping’ for those who wanted to hire a mattress bed.

 

The Sub-Committee asked what experience the applicant had in organising such events. Ms Bone replied that she had not organised an event on this scale on her own before but had previously been part of a managing team that organised the Taste of London event which attracted 20,000 people.

 

The Sub-Committee asked about security provision, to which the applicant replied that Talent Box, a local recruitment agency for stewarding, would be tasked with providing security for the whole site throughout the four-day event. There would be a minimum of 16 security personnel and a maximum of 24 for the whole event.

 

The Sub-Committee queried how possibly up to 300 cars might need access to the site. The applicant said she expecting some 200 cars. However, access to the site had now been switched to Harlow Road, and would not be from Sheering Lower Road. Also the shuttle bus from Harlow Station would reduce the likelihood of pedestrians.

 

The Sub-Committee asked if press would be attending, to which the applicant replied only industry / speciality press would be covering the event.

 

(d)       Questions for the Applicant from the Objector

 

The Essex Police Licensing Officer asked why the application was requesting in the Operating Schedule for the premises licence to run from 20 August to 30 August 2018. The applicant replied that her team would be on site from 20 August to set-up but there would be no sale of alcohol until the event commenced.

 

The Essex Police Licensing Officer asked where the CCTV would be located, to which the applicant replied in the courtyard and around New House Farm only.

 

(e)       Presentation of the Objector

 

The Essex Police Licensing Officer expanded on his representation detailed in the agenda and said that if the licence was granted, the Police would prefer alcohol was not served between 15.30 and 18.00 hours so there was a break, as currently alcohol could be served continuously for over 15 hours. The applicant agreed to this additional condition for the sale of alcohol to cease between 15.00 and 18.00 hours.

 

The Event Management Plan made reference to various promises of Essex Police. Any involvement / support would need to be agreed with Essex Police at least six weeks in advance of the event. He also confirmed that the shuttle bus would be operating from Harlow Town Station.

 

(f)        Questions for the Objector from Sub-Committee

 

The Sub-Committee supported the new site access from Harlow Road and the provision of a shuttle bus to help minimise pedestrians walking to the venue.

 

(g)       Questions for the Objector from the Applicant

 

There were no questions from the applicant.

 

(h)       Closing statement from the Objector

 

The objector had nothing further to add to his original statement.

 

(i)        Closing statement from the Applicant

 

The applicant only added that the break in the sale of alcohol was reasonable.

 

(j)        Consideration of the application before the Sub-Committee

 

Members of the Sub-Committee, the Legal Officer and Democratic Services Officers withdrew from the Chamber to consider the application in private. During their deliberations the Sub-Committee received no further advice from the officers present.

 

            RESOLVED:

 

That the application for a new premises licence in respect of New House Farm, Sheering lower Road, Sawbridgeworth CM21 9LE be granted subject to the following conditions which the Council considered were reasonable, proportionate and in the public interest for the promotion of the licensing objectives:

 

(1)       The conditions which were consistent with the Operating Schedule which this Sub-Committee considered were appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives.

 

(2)       The mandatory conditions contained in Sections 19–21 of the Licensing Act 2003.

 

(3)       In addition to the following conditions for the licensing objectives:

 

(a)       The Risk Management and Operational Event Plan be supplied and agreed by Essex Police and the Licensing Authority six weeks before the date of the event.

 

(b)       No sale of alcohol shall take place between 15.00 and 18.00 hours.

 

(c)       The noise level limits agreed with the Environmental Officers be adhered to.

 

(d)       A shuttle bus shall be available for use of all persons attending the venue between the venue and Harlow Town Station.