Agenda, decisions and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 5 March 2019be confirmed and signed at the next meeting of this Committee.

None.

In the matter of the application for the variation of a Premises Licence, the Committee has considered the relevant representations made.

The Committee has made the following determination:

With a view to ensuring the promotion of the licensing objectives, in accordance with the provisions of the statutory guidance and the principles of our licensing policy, the application for the variation (as was amended at Committee,) of a Premises Licence, was GRANTED. The amendment was:

“Any single consecutive two day period between 1 July and 31 September in any calendar year, with the dates for each year to be agreed at least six months in advance of the date of the event with the licensing authority, the Councils ESAG (Events Safety Advisory Group) and the appropriate executive director (agreement to be issued by the Licensing Authority)” AND the addition of a new site plan. 

In coming to a determination the Committee considered the following matters;

1.   The Committee noted the representations made by residents. There are concerns that moving the event ‘On Blackheath’ to the Summer will affect residents’ enjoyment of their homes. The weather is warmer in July and residents are more likely to want to be outside in their gardens with their windows open. September is not so warm and windows are more likely to be closed; residents would be less affected at this time of year.

2.   The Committee noted the representation made by the applicant. ‘On Blackheath’ has held 5 successful annual events.  In excess of 15,000 people attended each event over the last two years with a relatively low number of complaints received for each one. 

3.   The premises licence holder attends the Council’s Event Safety Advisory Group (“ESAG”) and presents an event management plan at least 3 months prior to each event. Representatives from the Royal Borough of Greenwich attend the ESAG as well. The noise management plan was adjusted to ensure that a 65db limit is imposed for residents.  This limit is monitored throughout each event and there is no evidence that this limit was exceeded.

4.   No representations were received from any responsible authorities.

5.   The Committee noted that the applicant agreed to the conditions recommended by the Police and licensing officers and that granting the application would promote the four licensing objectives.

3.1      The Chair welcomed all parties to the meeting and introductions were made. She then invited Ms Spall to introduce the application.

            Licensing Officer   

3.2      Ms Spall said that this hearing is in relation to representations to the full variation application for OnBlackheath, Blackheath Common, SE3 Part borders: Goffers Road, Shooters Hill Road, A2 Hare and Billet Road, Wat Tyler Road SE3. She outlined the current licence and the particulars of the full variation as follows:

            ‘To change the applicable dates of the event to:

            ‘Any single consecutive two day period between 1 July and 31 September in any calendar year, with the dates for each year to be agreed at least six months in advance of the date of the event with the licensing authority, the Council’s ESAG (Events Safety Advisory Group) and the appropriate executive director (agreement to be issued by the Licensing Authority)’ and the addition of a new site plan.

3.3      Ms Spall said that the application had been advertised in accordance with Regulation 25. No representations had been received from any responsible authorities but representations had been received from eight interested parties, one of which was in support of the application. Conditions had been agreed between the applicant, the Police and the licensing authority which had been circulated to members.

3.4      Ms Spall provided an overview of the current licensing arrangements for OnBlackheath. She said that the premises licence holder is currently required to attend the Council’s Event Safety Advisory Group (ESAG) and present an event management plan at least 3 months prior to each event taking place. The final event management plan is to be confirmed and approved by the ESAG and the Licensing Authority before commencement of each event. Greenwich Council have been invited to all ESAGs where OnBlackheath has been discussed, to have input into these discussions. 

3.5      Additionally, Ms Spall said that the premises licence holder must employ a competent noise control consultant to produce a Noise Management Plan prior to each year’s event for the approval of the licensing authority and a noise control report following each event. On each event day, the noise control consultant will continuously monitor noise levels, both on and off site, at agreed monitoring positions, throughout the period that regulated entertainment is provided and liaise with the relevant responsible authorities. Sound check times, show times and details of noise monitoring procedures are to be included in the Noise Management Plan which is incorporated into the Event Management Plan for sign off by the ESAG.

3.6      Last year it was agreed at ESAG, after input from a Greenwich representative, that the noise management plan be adjusted to ensure that a 65 decibel limit be imposed for Greenwich residents. This was monitored during the event by both the event’s noise management consultant and the Council’s environmental protection team and there was no evidence that this limit was exceeded in Greenwich. Ms Spall then outlined the steps available to members of the Committee.

            Applicant

3.7      Mr Benn outlined  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.