Agenda item

The Director of Local Services and Enforcement submits a report on an application for a new premises licence Leicestershire County Cricket Club, County Ground, Grace Road, Leicester.

Report attached. A copy of the associated documentation is attached for

Members only. Further copies are available on the Council’s website at

www.Cabinet.leicester.gov.uk or by telephoning Democratic Support on 0116

4546358.

Please note that the supporting information to the report contains exempt information and is attached for Members only. These papers are marked “NOT FOR PUBLICATION”. The information in these papers will be exempt as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local

Government Act 1972, as amended and it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The information therefore must not be disclosed or discussed at the meeting. Should Members wish to refer to any of these details it is recommended that the meeting move to exclude the Press and Public during its consideration.

The Director of Local Services and Enforcement submitted a report that required Members to determine an application for a new premises licence for Leicestershire County Cricket Club, County Ground, Grace Road, Leicester.

Members noted that representations had been received in respect of the application which necessitated that the application be considered by Members.

Mr Atkinson of Leicestershire County Cricket Club (the applicant) was present accompanied by Mr Overend, Commercial Manager, Mr Carter, Transport Planner, Mr Lennie, Martial Arts Promoter and Mr Stewart, Martial Arts Promoter.

Two representees Mr Kealey and Mr Naidoo were present as was the Licensing Team Manager and the Solicitor to the sub-committee.

It was noted that there was a member of the press and several members of the public in attendance which included Councillor Clarke.

Introductions were led by the Chair and the procedure for the meeting was explained to those present.

The Licensing Team Manager presented the report. It was noted that four

representations had been received, three from local residents and one from a ward councillor that related to the four licensing objectives, namely the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance, public safety and the protection of children from harm. Concerns had been raised that the event would disrupt local residents and lead to increased crime, disorder and noise nuisance in the area.

The sub-committee were informed that a mediation process had been undertaken and following a meeting between the representees and the applicants some additional conditions had been agreed. The Licensing Officer circulated copies of the additional conditions.

Mr Kealey outlined the reasons for his representation and answered questions from Members.

Mr Naidoo outlined the reasons for his representation and answered questions from Members.

It was noted that the third and fourth representees were not present and their written representations were before the sub-committee.

Mr Atkinson of Leicestershire County Cricket Club was then given the opportunity to respond to the points made.

Mr Atkinson of Leicestershire County Cricket Club was then invited to outline the application and was supported in this by Mr Lennie and Mr Carter. The applicants then answered questions from Members and the representees.

11.20am The Chair adjourned the meeting until 11.30am.

11.30am The meeting resumed with all parties present.

All parties were then given the opportunity to sum up their positions and make any final submissions.

Prior to Members considering the application, the Solicitor to the sub-committee advised Members of the options available to them in making a decision.

Members were advised of the relevant policy and statutory guidance that needed to be taken into account when making their decision. Members were also advised that some of the issues raised in the representations relating to access and transport arrangements did not directly pertain to the licensing objectives and care should be taken when considering these as a separate scheme of regulation was in place to deal with that.

In reaching their decision Members felt that they should deliberate in private on the basis that this was in the public interest and as such outweighed the public interest of their deliberation taking place in the presence of the parties.

The Licensing Team Manager, the Solicitor to the sub-committee, Mr Atkinson, Mr Carter, Mr Stewart, Mr Lennie and Mr Overend (for Leicestershire County Cricket Club), Mr Kealey and Mr Naidoo (representees), members of the press and public then withdrew from the meeting.

Members then gave the application full and detailed consideration.

The Solicitor to the sub-committee was then recalled to the hearing to give advice on the wording of the decision.

The Licensing Team Manager, Mr Atkinson, Mr Carter, Mr Stewart, Mr Lennie, Mr Overend (for Leicestershire County Cricket Club), Mr Kealey and Mr Naidoo (representees) and members of the press and public then returned to the meeting.

The Chair informed all persons present that they had recalled the Solicitor to

the sub-committee for advice on the wording of their decision.

RESOLVED:

that the application for a new premises licence: Leicestershire County Cricket Club, County Ground, Grace Road, Leicester be granted subject to the conditions consistent with the operating schedule (at appendix C of the report) together with the additional conditions agreed and amended as follows:

1. The terminal hour for live and recorded music will be amended from 11pm to 10.30pm.
2. The terminal hour for alcohol sales will be amended from 11.30pm to 10pm.
3. Food sales from temporary stands within the premises will cease at 10pm.
4. No person under the age of 14 years will be admitted to the event unless they are accompanied by a person over 18 years (this replaces the last condition as set out in the operating schedule at appendix C).
5. An appropriate number of security staff will be redeployed from the premises to the street immediately before the live performance ends.
6. An appropriate number of event staff will be deployed to pick up litter on adjacent streets on both Saturday 11^th and Sunday 12^th June 2016.
7. Sound, lighting and video equipment may be dismantled immediately after the performance finishes, but the stage will be dismantled over the following day or two.

In reaching their decision the sub-committee said they had carefully considered this application and all of the representations that it had attracted. The sub-committee noted that various meetings had taken place between the applicants and the local residents and these had called upon various agencies with experience in this field. The sub-committee also noted that these meetings had resulted in various additional conditions which had satisfied some of the objections. The sub-committee felt that the applicants had been fair and reasonable in agreeing a number of additional conditions in their efforts to alleviate the fears expressed by the local residents. The sub-committee therefore granted the licence with all the agreed and amended additional conditions.