Agenda item

In the matter of this application for the variation of Premises Licences,the Committee has considered all the relevant representations made by all parties.

The Committee has made the following determination to ensure the promotion of the licensing objectives in accordance with the provisions of the Secretary of State’s guidance and the principles of our licensing policy:

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 applications were AGREED.

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

1    The Committee noted the claim that the applicant had been organising events in Beckenham Place Park since 2019 and had received positive feedback from local authorities. The application was within the licensing policy and reflected previous engagement with the responsible authorities

2.    Members noted that a small number of objections had been received from local residents. The applicant had increased contact with residents and a community liaison officer had been appointed to ensure that residents were given the opportunity to raise any concerns with Krankbrother. Two residents’ meetings had been held since the last event in 2021. Two more meetings were planned before the next event

3.    Krankbrother identified noise as a major issue for residents, so a new noise management plan had been created to help reduce local disturbance. The plan self imposes a low frequency limit. The P A direction had been changed, the site design had changed, monitoring locations had increased, and output from speakers would be reduced.

4.    Members of the Committee noted that Krankbrother paid a large damage deposit every year to the park.

5.   Members of the Committee noted the representation made by Councillor Wells, ward member for Copers Cope in the London Borough of Bromley. Residents had endured noise from music in the park which could be heard several miles away, particularly the base. Councillor Wells welcomed Krankbrother’s attempts at mitigation of noise issues and the new noise plan which addressed many of the residents’ issues.

6.   It was also noted that complaints had been received from local residents who had endured anti-social behaviour, defecation and urination in residents’ front gardens at events held in 2019. More policing and marshalling of the area was required. The closure of several roads around the park was welcomed to ease the problem of parking for residents.

7    Members of the Committee noted that Councillor Wells objected to the application because he did not have confidence in the applicant’s ability to marshal and police a 50% increase in the numbers of people attending events in Beckenham Place Park.

8.    Representations opposing these applications had not been received from the Metropolitan Police or any other responsible authorities and it was agreed that by granting these applications, the four licensing objectives would be upheld.

3.1      The Chair welcomed all parties to the Licensing Committee. She introduced those present, and outlined the procedure to be followed for the meeting. She then invited the Crime Enforcement and Regulations Officer to introduce the applications.

            Crime, Enforcement and Regulation Officer  

3.2     The Crime Enforcement and Regulations (CER) Officer said that the application was in relation to representations that had been received with regard to two full variation applications from Krankbrothers for events to take place in Beckenham Place Park BR3 5BS. She outlined the current licensed activities at the premises and the applications applied for. Eleven applications had been received from interested parties including two local councillors.

3.3      Ms Spall then outlined the powers available to members when making their decision.

            Applicant

3.4      Mr Clancy then addressed the Committee. He made the following points:

• Krankbrother had been organising events in Beckenham Place Park since 2019 and had received positive feedback from local authorities. The audience was predominantly young people from the greater London area and a large number from the immediate area of the park.
• The events in Beckenham Place Park had had a low impact on the community and there had been positive engagement with that community and the responsible authorities. Krankbrothers had responded to issues when brought to their attention.
• The application was within the licensing policy and reflected previous engagement with the responsible authorities.
• Representations opposing this application had not been received from the Metropolitan Police, responsible authorities, the noise control teams or the nuisance teams within Lewisham. Krankbrothers believed that this was due to the confidence that authorities had in the way their events operated, the low impact of previous shows and robust licensing conditions.
• A small number of objections had been received from local residents. Krankbrothers were very committed to liaising with local residents. Mr Butterfield had been appointed as a community liaison officer. Two residents’ meetings had been held since the last event in 2021. Two more meetings were planned before the next event. Following the number of noise complaints last year, communication with residents had gone a long way to improving relations and trust.
• A new noise management plan had been created to help reduce local disturbance. The plan self-imposed a low frequency limit. The P A direction had been changed, the site design had changed, monitoring locations had increased, and output from speakers would be reduced.
• Noise was not expected to increase because of an increase in capacity.
• Krankbrothers pay £25k damage deposit every year to the park. Last year £18k was paid for restoration costs. They work closely with the park team and ensure that any damages following an event is addressed.
• Communication with residents had increased considerably and a contact address had been given to ensure that they had the opportunity to contact Krankbrothers and raise any concerns if necessary.

3.5      Councillor Brown asked for more information about road closures and how they would work. He also asked Mr Butterfield whether anyone had engaged with any of the objectors who had made a representation against this application or been in contact with any local recognised organisation. Mr Butterworth said that the letter had been circulated to members of this Committee and all residents who had made a representation.  He did not know whether these residents previously attended any of the consultations, but the letter had been sent directly to each individual. The Westgate Residents’ Association had replied to Krankbrothers. There had been a consensus by members of their Committee, that if the road was closed and marshalled for the event with the noise management plan in place, they would not attend the meeting this evening or oppose the application.

3.6      Mr Butterfield explained that the traffic management company, The Last Mile, would be engaged to help manage the closure of the roads. Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders could be used for Beckenham Place Park and then their own stewards and security would be used to close other roads. Residents would be the only people who may access these roads.

3.7      Councillor Elliott asked whether an increase in toilet facilities would be part of the event management plan. Mr Bowles said that the document ‘the event safety guide’ would be used. It was an HSE guidance for outside events and there was a baseline recommendation for toilet provision. In addition, routes to and from the station were being identified for appropriate toilet provision in an effort to manage anti-social behaviour.

3,8      Councillor Howard asked the applicants why they had applied for two different festival events in a highly residential area. The setting up and removal of equipment would take two days and there would be environmental damage. In addition the events would take place when birds were nesting. Mr Clancy said that the number of event days would not increase. The application was for an increase in capacity because they had strong demand for the events because previous events had been successful and young people in the south London area wanted to buy tickets. A bigger crowd allows Krankbrother to attract better artists, improved production, and generally allows them to elevate the event. Having the event on consecutive weekends can be challenging for residents but following intensive research, from an ecological point of view the park would be occupied for less days. Equipment would be delivered once rather than twice, and all the CO2 emissions associated with the lorries would be avoided

3.9      Councillor Wise referred to the map at the back of the application. She said that the VIP and stage were close to the lake. She asked whether the public could access to the lake and was advised that they could not gain access to that area because there would be a fence between the audience and the lake. She was also advised that ‘boneyard’ was a term used where stillages and empty fly cases were stored

            Representation

3.10    Councillor Wells then addressed the Committee. He said that following the last event managed by Krankbrothers in 2019, local residents raised three issues. Noise, which had been addressed by the applicants in their presentation, He welcomed their attempts at mitigation of noise issues for residents, and asked Mr Clancy to send him a copy of the new noise plan. Attempts to reduce noise levels would be welcomed by Beckenham residents because the noise could be heard several miles away in 2019

3.11    Councillor Wells said that the closure of certain roads was welcomed, all were within the borough of Bromley. He asked whether this had been discussed with officers within that borough to set up the closures and pay for these closures. Braeside and Highland Croft would be closed by the borough of Bromley if Krankbrothers did not intend to close them. Residents had experienced difficulty parking during the event of 2019.

3.12    Events held in 2019 did not have enough marshalling or policing, particularly Naked City. Although the situation improved slightly after this event, anti-social behaviour, defecation and urination in residents’ front gardens was common. Anti-social behaviour was significantly worse as patrons left the area and marshalling should be improved. He welcomed the intention to place toilet facilities at and on the way to transport hubs.

3.13    In conclusion, Councillor Wells said that he objected to the increase in the numbers of people attending the event. Following the experience of the events that took place in 2019, he did not have confidence in Krankbrothers to marshal and police future events if capacity was increased by 50%.

3.14    Ms Spall clarified that members had the power to grant, modify or reject the application.

3.15    Mr Butterfield confirmed that the traffic management company, Last Mile, were aware that they needed to engage with Bromley highways on the road closures.

3.16    The Chair said that she was satisfied that members of the Committee had read and heard all the information required to make a decision.  Before members left the meeting and proceeded to the vote, she needed to ensure that every member who would be voting on his item had been present throughout and had no internet disruptions.  Each member then confirmed that they had been present throughout this item and had heard all the evidence.

3.17    The Chair said that a decision letter would be sent out within 5 working days. She thanked all parties for their attendance, and they left the meeting.