Agenda, decisions and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 October 2004 as a correct record. 

The Chairman was authorised to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 October 2004. 

Members need only declare an interest in circumstances where there is an item on the agenda that may cause a conflict of interests. 

The following interests were declared:

Councillor Mrs HF Kember as local Member for The Shelfords

Councillor Mrs JA Muncey as local Member for Histon.

The Assistant Licensing Officer asked the Committee to consider and approve Great Shelford’s request for Consent Street Status, in order that the necessary process to organise the Status could be commenced.

The Licensing Committee

AGREED        to the request from Great Shelford Parish Council for all streets in the village to be designated as Consent Streets.

Members raised the issue of the possibility of designating blanket Consent Street Status across the district, as opposed to waiting for each village to make an application and agreeing them individually.  It was confirmed that this had been discussed in the past and no further action taken due to the costs and officer time involved.  At present there would also need to be a focus on ensuring applications under the Licensing Act 2003 were dealt with efficiently, thereby making Consent Street Status a lower priority except where specific applications were made by villages.

Until the Committee was able to devote its energies to this topic, it was agreed that all Council Members should be encouraged to consider talking to their parishes about making Consent Street applications.  This was to be done through the Members’ Weekly Bulletin.  It was also suggested that the process of application be advertised in a future edition of South Cambs Magazine.

The appendices referred to in the report are not available electronically. 

The Committee would also like to recommend that the applicant consult further with the Environmental Health Officer regarding additional noise limitation measures, before a new licence is applied for.

Councillor Mrs JA Muncey declared an interest in this item as the local member for Histon.

Four residents of Saffron Road, Histon were in attendance to voice their objections to the renewal of the Public Entertainment Licence for the Royal British Legion Club.  These included:

·                      Loud music being audible in their homes including high levels of bass, causing vibrations;

·                      Noise disturbances from people leaving the club continuing well after closing time;

·                      Rowdyism of young people – including apparent under-age drinking – in the car park during opening hours;

·                      Glass bottles left in the car park and on the street;

·                      Extended opening hours until midnight, potentially every night of the week, since 2004 without the knowledge of local residents.

The applicant on behalf of the Royal British Legion Club sought to address these issues in his support of the application for renewal of the Public Entertainment Licence. 

·                      The Noise Limiter in the Club was set to 90 Dba which was lower than it had been previously;

·                      Noise after closing time could not be commented on;

·                      No under-age persons were allowed to buy alcohol at the Club and only children of members and guests at the Club were only allowed on the premises;

·                      People buying drinks in the Club were asked by signage not to take glasses and bottles outside the Club;

·                      The notice of intent to extend public entertainments to midnight in 2004 was posted on the Club notice board outside as per the requirements of the application.

The Environmental Health Officer reassured the Committee of the capabilities of the Noise Limiter that was fitted at the Club but that it could not limit the power of low frequency or bass music and that alternative remedies to this problem would need to be discussed with the Club.

Having taken regard of the information provided by the Licensing Officer and the arguments of the applicant and the objectors, the Licensing Committee 

The Committee would also like to recommend that the applicant consult further with the Environmental Health Officer regarding additional noise limitation measures, before a new licence is applied  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.