Agenda item

Finsbury Park, N4 (Stroud Green ward): To consider an application for a Premises License to provide a licensable activity in the form of Regulated Entertainment for in excess of 500 people.

The Chair agreed to receive some late documents and plans from the applicant which sought to address previous concerns raised by the responsible authorities.   The meeting was adjourned for 20 minutes so that  the officers had time to consider the late information.

 

The meeting reconvened at 7.30pm and the Chair ran through the order of proceedings and introduced those present.

 

In answer to questions from members, the applicant explained that there would be no fireworks at this event and 3,000 tickets had been printed; to date 1,000 had been sold but there would be some sales at the door.  He explained that this was not a political event and stressed it’s cultural significance to the Kurdish people.  There would be no bonfire and fireworks and he felt this represented a large sacrifice in the interests of public safety.  He also felt he was acting in the public interest by holding one large organised event rather than the possibility of many private events which could pose a fire risk.  Only cold food would be served, no alcoholic beverages and no glass; an adequate number of toilets would be provided and attendees had been advised not to bring cars.  The Licensing Officer confirmed that Traffic Management had said that parking attendants were unnecessary. 

 

An objector (local resident) was present and outlined her concerns about people bringing fireworks into the event illegally and felt that the general organisation with regards to health and safety was inadequate.  She was also concerned about a report in the Londoner that a crowd of 25,000 was possible. 

 

The applicant explained that the door number would not be this excessive (a) because only 3,000 tickets had been printed and (b) there were events up and down the country this year so there would be less people travelling to the Haringey event.  He was respectful of local residents end confirmed that music would be turned off at 10.30 sharp.  Also, all stewards working at the event had been trained in public safety and would be required to attend a briefing before the event. 

 

The responsible authorities (Fire, Police and the Health and Safety Officers) then questioned the applicant about the revised plans submitted at the meeting and requested the extra information set out in the Appendix to these minutes.

 

In summing up, the Chair stated that Haringey was a cosmopolitan borough and keen to support community events but it also had to meet it’s obligation under the Licensing Act 2003 and support it’s objectives:  i) the prevention of crime and disorder; ii) public safety; iii) the prevention of public nuisance and iv) the protection of children from harm. 

 

RESOLVED

The Committee decided to grant the application, subject to the conditions set out in the appendix to these minutes being fulfilled, and confirmation of these being sent to the Licensing Manager by close of business on 22 March 2006.

 

REASONS:  The Committee decided that it was necessary to impose the conditions as set out in the appendix to these minutes in order to promote the four objectives of the Licensing Act 2003.

 

Informative:  The Committee felt that in future tickets should not be sold on the door for community events and that any issues arising from this event should be fed back to the Licensing Committee for future reference.

 

NB:  Members subsequently decided to extend the deadline to close of business on 23^rd March and the applicant fulfilled all the conditions

 

That the application be granted subject to the further requests of the responsible authorities as set out below, to be supplied to Dale Barrett by close of business on 22 March 2006:

 

Fire Authority

 

1)           Following fence removal; all holes be filled in by the contractor

 

2)           An extra exit be supplied and that this be wide enough to accommodate emergency vehicles.  (All existing exits to be wide enough to accommodate emergency vehicles).

 

3)           Extra detail be supplied with regard to the Marquees ie. materials, lighting and heating.

 

4)           Details, names and numbers of the electricians working on site.

 

5)           The generator to be housed appropriately (I believe the applicant said this was shown on the applicant’s original plan)

 

6)           Details of the siting of the extinguishers and certification that the Stewards have been trained in their use

 

7)           The evacuation message should be more specific when announced to the public ‘Spring is Here’ is ok for the Stewards.  All Stewards to be supplied with radios to communicate the ‘Spring is Here’ message in the first instant.  The PA’s must run on their own control panel, in the event of a fire on the stage.

 

8)           All confiscated fireworks to be thrown in a bucket of water.  Bins to be provided for other confiscated items. 

 

9)           Lighting must extend to the exit from the park.

 

10)       The Event Safety Co-ordinator must be shown as the Officer in Charge on the staff structure chart.  All personnel on duty must be named; including the caterers with telephone numbers. 

 

Police

 

1)           Updated staff structure (also requested by the Fire Brigade), this must include the names and times of the stewards duty rota. 

 

2)           Stewards must be identifiable with bibs throughout the event and must not take part in any dancing while on duty.  The applicant, in his role as Deputy Manager, must be on site at all times.

 

3)           The Event Safety Co-ordinator must be in charge of the evacuation plan; the Police will only take command if they decide it is a major incident.  His name and telephone number must be provided. 

 

4)           The exists must be completely clear of any event vehicles prior to the start of the event to make room for emergency vehicles.  The Parks Officer offered to supply parking for 6-7 vehicles where they would not cause obstruction.  The event must not start before these areas are cleared.

 

5)           All Stewards conducting searches must be Security Industries Act Trained (with Certification) in order to manage potential conflicts etc.

 

6)           Adequate security must be in place for ticket sales and safe keeping of any money from ticket sales.

 

7)           Clickers must be used on counting people in and out.

 

8)           A list of all stage acts to be supplied and confirmation that these will not be politically controversial.  Also, a list of all VIP’s expected to attend. 

 

9)           Small barriers must be used at the rear to support the fence and all barriers must be easy to move.

 

10)       Stewards at the critical exits must be SIA Certified.

 

11)       2-4 Stewards should patrol outside the event.

 

12)       Stewards should be paid, not volunteers.

 

13)       The Police Control Unit should not be housed within the festival area.

 

14)       No Stewards shall leave the event until all the public have cleared the area and this should be done within half an hour of the close of the event

 

Health and Safety

 

1)           A full detailed electrical specification to be supplied; this must include the positioning of all equipment and safety precautions, certificates of compliance for all temporary installations and the type of fuel to be used.

 

2)           Details of the siting of generators and their housing and safety precautions.

 

3)           Details of the materials used in the marquees (must be fire resistant)

 

4)           Details of the siting and numbers of the toilets and these, along with the exit points and first aid marquee, must be signed throughout the event.

 

5)           Provisions of the St John’s Ambulance risk assessment

 

6)           Where fence panels are removed form Zone 6, the surface must be level.

 

7)           At future events; no tickets to be sold at the door and Stewards must not sell tickets.

 

8)           Details of the lighting system and back up

 

9)           Stewards to be notified of evacuation in the first instant by radio then a PA announcement to the public.

 

10)       2 extra Disabled access/exits to be supplied.

 

11)       More specific instructions on the use of suspect packages and vehicles. i.e. no use of mobiles phones or radios near them.

 

12)       All Stewards to be supplied with radios

 

 

Extra Conditions imposed by the Licensing Committee

 

1)     Regular PA announcements of the siting of the toilets, first aid marquees and emergency exits.

 

2)     Regular PA announcements that there will be no celebratory fires

 

3)     That details satisfying all the conditions of the responsible authorities must be with Dale Barrett by end of business on 22 March 2006

 

Amendments to email from Jamie Villalobos

 

·              Delete No 9

·              No 13 - to include entrance and exits

·              No 21 - must be able to inform the police and licensing authority of numbers present at any time.

·              No 23 - Stewards must operate a counting system at all entry and exit points to monitor numbers inside the event to ensure the maximum number of 3,500 is not exceeded.

·              No 29 - A contact name and number shall be provided by the organiser to the Council’s noise team for any complaints that may arise.

·              No 31 – delete firework firing area.

·              No 34 – delete and insert; ‘no seats to be used; signing off certificates to be given to the Council for the stage’

·              No 54 - The electrical installations shall be signed off as satisfactory and certificates issues to the Council by the electrician

·              Delete items under ‘Food Safety Arrangements’

·              No 71 – Delete Nov 1996 version

·              Delete No 80

·              Delete No 83