The Chairman will introduce the members of the Sub-Committee and the officers in attendance at the meeting.

A copy of the Licensing (2003 Act) Committee procedure is attached.

			South Cambridgeshire Hall Cambourne Business Park Cambourne Cambridge CB3 6EA

SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL

LICENSING (2003 ACT) SUB-COMMITTEE

Those present at the hearing:

Sub-Committee                      Councillor Deborah Roberts (Chairman)

                                                Councillor Andrew Fraser

                                                Councillor Alex Riley

SCDC Officers:                      Maggie Jennings, Democratic Services Officer

                                                Virginia Lloyd, Lawyer

Susan Walford, Operational Manager, Environmental Health and Licensing

Applicant:                                Douglas Christian

Representees:                         Brian Burling, Trustee for Over Community Centre

                                                Sean Watkiss, General Manager, Over Community Centre

Witnesses:                               Nick Atkins, Environmental Health Officer, SCDC

Police Sargent Rabel, Histon Police Station

                                                Juli Stallabrass, Licensing & Communities Officer, SCDC

The Application

Review of Premises Licence at Over Community Centre, The Doles, Over.

Considerations

The Sub-Committee considered the application very carefully and had due regard to the Licensing Act 2003, accompanying Guidance and Regulations, the South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Licensing Policy  and to the written representations received.

Thirteen representations were received in response to the application; these were contained in the agenda papers for the hearing.

Mr Christian wished to introduce further photographic evidence and noise recordings in relation to the event held on 25 July 2015.  The representees of the Centre did not agree to the late submission of the evidence and noted that the event was not a licensable activity in any case.  Consequently, the Sub-Committee ruled that this documentary evidence was inadmissible and would not be considered.

Mr Christian addressed the Sub-Committee and made the following statements:

• He advised of noise intrusion into his property and informed the Sub-Committee that he had made stage 1 and 2 complaints to SCDC and also to the Ombudsman.
• He and his wife moved to their address in May 2013 and there was no noise disturbance until November 2013 when he made his first complaints.  He requested that the Centre turn down the music in July 2014 which they failed to do.  He has made complaints to the Police.  He stated he had recordings of noise nuisance at 65 decibels.  His wife has Alzheimers and he is her carer.  The noise nuisance has caused anxiety and sleep disturbance. 
• He agreed that the limiter at the Centre had been adjusted to his satisfaction in January 2015 and that the situation had improved initially.
• Recently, he has made further complaints about noise nuisance to the Council.  He refers to the birthday party which took place on 25 July 2015 at which there was a live band.  He claimed that the doors were not shut during the event but conceded he had not verified this himself.

Ms Walford addressed the Sub-Committee and made the following statements:

• She made representations that the decision must adhere to the 4 key licensing objectives including the prevention of public nuisance.
• She confirmed that there had been no new  ...  view the full decision text for item 3.