Agenda and minutes

In accordance with the local Code of Conduct, a councillor is required to disclose at the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) that they may have in respect of any matter for consideration on this agenda. Any councillor with a DPI must not participate in any discussion or vote regarding that matter and that they must also withdraw from the meeting immediately before consideration of the matter.

If that DPI has not been registered, you must notify the Monitoring Officer of the details of the DPI within 28 days of the date of the meeting.

Councillors are further invited to disclose any non-pecuniary interest which may be relevant to any matter on this agenda, in the interests of transparency, and to confirm that it will not affect their objectivity in relation to that matter.

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

DETAILS OF DECISION TAKEN:

In arriving at its decision, the Sub-Committee took into account the relevant representations submitted verbally and in writing. The Sub-Committee was also made aware that the following sections of the Licensing Policy were relevant:

·         Section 4:        (Fundamental Principles)

·         Section 12.1    (Large Scale Events)

·         Section 12.4:   (Prevention of Public Nuisance)

·         Section 13       (Licence Conditions)

The following sections of the Guidance issued in April 2018 by the Secretary of State under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 are relevant:

·         Paragraphs 2.15 – 2.21 – Public Nuisance

·         Paragraphs 5.25 – 5.26 – Large scale time-limited events requiring premises licences

·         Paragraphs 9.31 – 9.41 – Hearings

·         Paragraphs 9.42 – 9.44 – Determining actions that are appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives

·         Paragraphs 10.1 to 10.66 – Conditions attached to premises licences

The Sub-Committee received a report from the Licensing Officer who stated that the Sub-Committee had convened to consider an application for the grant of a premises licence at Shalford Park, Shalford Road, Guildford, GU1 3XL.  The landowner was the Local Authority who could restrict the use of the park.  A current premise licence, GUPLA0635 was held by Guildford Borough Council which allowed licensable activities 7 days a week between 0800 hrs and 0000 hrs (Midnight) but did not include the sale of alcohol.  Regular music festivals/events had been held on this site since the granting of this licence. 

The application had been originally submitted to host a festival at Shalford Park on 6-7 June 2020.  The licensable activities included were as listed below, between the hours of 09:00 – 22:00. 

·         The sale of alcohol

·         Performance of dance

·         Live Music

·         Recorded Music

A total of seven representations had been received from other persons concerning issues in relation to public nuisance, noise and general disturbance.  In addition, the Guildford Safety Advisory Group had met with the event organisers to discuss the plans for the event.  A number of licensing conditions had been proposed to be attached to the licence, if granted.

The Solicitor advised the Sub-Committee that given the land was in the ownership of Guildford Borough Council, who had the final say on whether to allow any events to be held on their land, controls were therefore in place to meet the promotion of the four licensing objectives.

The Sub-Committee noted the following submissions made by the applicant, Mr Paul Kennedy:

·         Four of the objections received from other persons seemed to relate to similar issues.  Since the objections had been submitted, the Events Production Officer had been in contact with the Licensing Officer to agree additional conditions so to allay any concerns the residents may have.

·         The applicant was in agreement with the additional conditions as outlined in the officer’s report.  However, they wanted it noted that no.2 should read 10:00 – 22:00 for amplified public entertainment [post-meeting note: the time was listed as 10:00 in the officer’s report and not 11:00 as inferred at the hearing].

·         The Event Management Plan provided more details on specific timings.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.