Agenda item

The application

To consider the variation of a Premises Licence.

Background

On 22 June 2023, an application for a variation of premises licence number SCDCPL261633 for Northstowe Running Festival, Northstowe Western Park, Kingfisher Close, Northstowe, CB24 1BZ was submitted to the Licensing Authority, and advertised and consulted upon.

The proposed application seeks to carry out the following activities:

A statutory 28-day consultation period started on 22 June 2023 and ended on 20 July 2023. This enabled Responsible Authorities and ‘Other Persons’ to make representations towards the application. ‘Other Persons’ includes any individual, body or business whether or not they live in the vicinity.

The application was advertised in the Cambridge Independent on 5 July 2023, and the site notice displayed on the premises as required. There have been no changes to the current licensing plan within this application. The premises licence was first granted on 20 July 2022.

Relevant representations

Environmental Health have no objection to the application and have agreed with the applicant a condition of ‘the Licence Holder is only permitted to hold up to a maximum of 1 x 2-day event at the premises between 20 August and 30 September, and none at any other time, within each calendar year’ to be imposed on any licence granted. Currently the premises licence allows for ‘one weekend in September’. Environmental Health have confirmed that they have never received any noise nuisance complaints about this event.

Trading Standards had no objection to the application.

There were no responses from other Responsible Authorities.

Observations:

The panel heard representations from the applicant, who explained the details and key points of the application and the events that would take place, including the demographics of these events. The following was explained:

·       The running festival is an annual event on the first weekend of September. Primarily a running event with multiple races over the weekend but event venue is free to enter to all residents. It offers many attractions such as street food and other market stalls.

·       It is a community-based event, with participation from local primary and secondary schools as well as local dance and scouts’ groups.

·       The event raises close to £5,000 for local charities.

·       The first Northstowe Running Festival took place in 2021 on Sunday only, in 2022 this was extended to the whole weekend and included a half marathon. The event is only being run as a one-day event in 2023 on Saturday 2 September.

·       The application to vary the licence was submitted to ‘future-proof’ the event and would cover their needs for most possible scenarios.

·       It was noted that the last race would finish at 3/4pm but that interactive events would be put on for young people to learn new skills.

·       The intention would be to finish any live music before the licensed time of 10pm.

·       The applicant indicated the Sunday event usually ends significantly before 10pm but they were simply looking to simplify the hours of the event. It was commented they would be happy to have licensed hours on the Sunday until only 6-7pm.

·       The variation of the licence would allow the event to run on the last weekend of August rather than the first weekend of September if it was necessary.

·       The live music would be positioned as far away from residents’ homes as possible to minimise any disruption and the noise level would be monitored at all times, it was further noted that the recorded music would be kept at low levels.

·       It is made clear to the participants to use the car parks provided rather than parking around the site of the event on the streets. Signs have been made to place around the local roads to advise participants to use the allocated parking which had not reached capacity during the previous events.

·       Extensive communications are run in the build-up to the event to notify local residents of the arrangements for the event and any disruptions that may take place.

Decision

Taking all the above into account the Sub-Committee decided to accept the variation subject to the following conditions and changes to the time of operation.

Reasons

·       The Northstowe Running Festival is a positive community event that encourages participation from all ages, promotes community cohesion, brings new people together and embraces diversity within the community.

·       Promoting the community of Northstowe as a new town and the encouragement of healthy activities.

·       Provides support and funding for local schools and charities.

·       The event had previously received no noise or nuisance complaints in past years.

Conditions

A single point of contact to be put in place to deal with any parking queries or concerns, this must be someone senior within Northstowe Running Festival. All nearby residents must be notified of the person identified for this role before the event and a contact number provided.