Agenda item

Report of the Director of People and Places (enclosed)

The Licensing Sub Committee considered the application for the granting of a premises licence made by Mr J Forrest, the Chairman in respect of the Croston Community Centre, Castle Walks, Croston, PR26 9RH in light of representations made towards the application under Section 18 of the Licensing Act 2003.

The Council had received the application on 21 January 2014.

None of the ‘Responsible Authorities’ made representations. There were two representations from ‘other persons’.

The Licensing Sub Committee has carefully considered the applicants written and verbal representations for the application for the granting of a premises licence and have also taken into account all the representations both written and verbal that had been made by local residents who were objecting to the proposals.

Members considered the concerns expressed about public safety and noise nuisance issues regarding the current premises.

Members also considered that the conditions proposed by the applicant subject to the amendments below are sufficient to meeting the licensing objectives.

The Sub Committee have considered the guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act, together with the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, in particular those paragraphs referred to within the report. The Sub Committee also considered Human Rights implications, in particular Article 6, Article 8 and Article 1 of the First Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights and the changes to the Act that have been amended by the Police Reform and Social Responsibly Act 2011.

The Sub Committee RESOLVED to grant the application as set out in the report subject to the following additional and amended conditions for the licence:

Regulated Entertainment:

Provision of plays                          Sunday to Thursday 08.00 – 22.00 indoors

                                                            Friday and Saturday 08.00 – 23.00 indoors

Provision of film                             Sunday to Thursday 08.00 – 22.00 indoors

                                                            Friday and Saturday 08.00 – 23.00 indoors

Provision of indoor sporting       Sunday to Thursday 08.00 – 22.00

Events                                               Friday and Saturday 08.00 – 23.00

Live music                                        Sunday to Thursday 08.00 – 22.00 indoors and outdoors

Friday and Saturday 08.00 – 23.00 indoors and outdoors

Provision of Recorded Music       Sunday to Thursday 08.00 – 22.00 indoors and outdoors                      

Friday and Saturday 08.00 – 23.00 indoors and outdoors

Provision of anything of a similar description to live music, recorded music or performance of dance                                                            Sunday to Thursday 08.00 – 22.00

indoors                                                                                                         Friday and Saturday 08.00 - 23.00

indoors

Hours the premises are open to the     Sunday to Thursday 08.00 – 22.00

public                                                                        Friday and Saturday 08.00 – 23.00

General

A hire contract will be drawn up stating the rules and regulations with regard to the use of the premises for all users highlighting the four licensing objectives. All leader/users will need to sign the document to state that they have read and fully understand the requirements when using the hall. A copy will be retained by both parties. Any leader/user not following the guidance will be removed from the premises.

The prevention of crime and disorder

The premises will be family orientated with parents in attendance. The Committee will not allow parties for teenagers to alleviate the problems associated with alcohol and teenagers.

Public safety

Risk assessments will be undertaken with regards to safety and monitored. There will be annual inspections for gas appliances, fire extinguishers, the fire alarm system, along with weekly inspections of the buildings by members of the Committee to ensure that there are no hazards present within the building. Additionally, the outside lighting will be regularly inspected, more frequently in the winter months to ensure that it is fully functional for entering and exiting the building. Users will be shown the emergency exits and the meeting point if an emergency arises. All main doors will be fitted with self-closing hinges.

The prevention of public nuisance

This will be brought to the attention of the hirer and will form part of the hire contract. Signage will be provided to the exits of the premises to alert users of the centre to a) proceed with care when leaving the premises b) leave quietly having respect for neighbours when leaving the premises c) not congregate outside the main doors to the premises. That all doors and windows of the Community Centre remain closed during regulated entertainment. That any audio speakers used in the Community Centre will face away from Castle Walks. Parties for teenagers will not be allowed.

The protection of children from harm

This will be brought to the attention of the hirer and will form part of the hire contract to ensure that children are not harmed.

The Sub Committee gave due regard to the measures to be put in place to satisfy the licensing objectives and determined the grant of the licence as proportionate in light of all the evidence and representations.