SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL

LICENSING (2003 ACT) SUB-COMMITTEE

Those present at the hearing:

Nomination of Chairman

Councillor Anna Bradnam was nominated as Chairman.

The application

The application to grant a Premises Licence for TL41394 56836 was received by the licensing department on the 10 December 2018. The requirements for advertising and displaying relevant notices were carried out in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003.

The application is for the Grant of a new Premises Licence.

The requested days and times for opening, Supply of Alcohol, Provision of Films, Provision of Live Music Recorded Music and Provision of Performance of Dance applied for are as follows:-

Background

The premise TL41394 56836 is a green field sited on Haggis Farm, Barton, Cambridge. The entrance of which is off Grantchester Road. The purpose of this licence is to hold an event at the premises for one period of up to two consecutive days from Saturday to Sunday inclusive on one occasion in each calendar year.

As required by the Licensing Act policy, the application was sent to all responsible authorities for consultation as part of the licensing application process. No representations were received from the responsible authorities.

Photographs of the Blue Notice displayed were received. The Notice was advertised in the Cambridge Evening News. On the 3 January 2019 it was brought to the attention of the licensing department that the blue notice was not visible. An officer visited the premises and confirmed that the blue notice was not displayed correctly. 

The application was sent out for consultation again. Confirmation of the correct display of Blue Notice was received on the 7 Jan 2019.

On the 15 January 2019 an email was received with an attached site plan and a link to the management plans that are requested five months before the event as part of the additional conditions of the proposed licence; Security Report, General Risk Assessment, Fire Safety Management Plan, Transport Management Plan, Event Safety, Management Plan – Introduction, Construction Phase Plan, Adverse Weather Plan and Emergency Management Plan - Site Plan.

On the 1 February 2019 a memo was sent to Licensing from Environmental Health with a request for changes to the application and additional conditions to be added to the licence when issued. 

On 4 February 2019 letters of support were received.

As part of the application process the applicant was made aware of the representations.

Relevant representations

No representations were received from the responsible authorities, however representations were made by interested parties. These relate primarily to Public Nuisance, the Prevention of Crime and Disorder and Public Safety objectives.

Observations:

The panel heard representations from the applicant and from residents of the neighbouring properties at Haggis Farm Cottages and to the north of the site off Grantchester Road. The ensuing discussion centred on the level of nuisance caused to the neighbouring properties in relation to noise, anti-social behaviour by festival goers on and around neighbouring properties and traffic disruption. The main concerns of the representees was the nuisance caused to them by noise, antisocial behaviour by festival goers, which included parking and trespassing of festival goers on their properties, traffic disruption to the area surrounding the festival site and noxious smells.

The applicant provided an overview of the plans that were being put in place to improve the organisation of the event, addressing problems that had occurred in previous years and to address the concerns raised by neighbouring residents. The applicant tabled a plan of the locality, indicating additional traffic management measures. The applicant had already agreed to 53 additional conditions to the licence and indicated a willingness to work further with the licensing authority and the neighbouring residents.

The applicant agreed to reduce the hours of sale of alcohol on the premises, extend the opening hours, the provision of extra security, additional amnesty bins and the extension of litter picking to neighbouring private properties.

The panel felt that the event organiser has recognised and taken reasonable steps to address the past problems and concerns in the plans that have been developed. They felt that a very responsible view of the event was being taken.

The decision

Taking all the above into account, the Sub-Committee AGREED the application subject to the following conditions:

• Sound checks taking place on the day before the event must only take place between the hours of 11.00 to 19.00.
• Security officers to be positioned near the neighbouring residential properties.
• On entry to the site, only sealed bottles of non alcoholic drink may be brought on site.
• Legal notices to be placed at the site exits reminding festival goers to be courteous to neighbouring residents and properties.
• “No entry to festival goers” notices to be placed at the entrance to the neighbouring property at Haggis Farm Cottages.
• A banning policy to be put in place.
• More amnesty bins to be provided both on the route to the entrance of the site and on the site itself.
• The applicant must ensure that they communicate with neighbouring residents and parish councils.
• Litter picking to be extended to neighbouring private properties, with the agreement of the owners and in compliance with Highways rules.

All parties may apply for a review of the Licence on a ground relating to one or more of the licensing objectives should there be any relevant issues arising from the operation of the Licence at any stage after the date of this decision notice.  The Sub-Committee hopes that local residents will feel able to bring any future concerns directly to the attention of the Applicant in an effort to reach an amicable solution.  The four licensing objectives are: the Prevention of Crime and Disorder; Prevention of Public Nuisance; Public Safety; and Protection of Children from Harm.

All parties to the application have a right of appeal to the Cambridge Magistrates’ Court within 21 days of receiving notification of this decision.

Signed:

Dated:             1 March 2019