To consider any new items admitted under item 2 above.
Minutes:
The Gladesmore Community School application for a premises licence had been accepted by the Sub-Committee as urgent business at Item 2 above.
The School was applying for a premises licence for regulated entertainment. The Licensing Officer (Ms Barrett) introduced a report on the application. Ms Barrett informed the Sub-Committee that this application was merely for the provision of regulated entertainment and would not include the ability to serve alcohol. She informed the Sub-Committee that no representations had been made from the relevant regulatory authorities. The Noise Team had made some comments and these were included with the report in Appendix 2. The Noise Team had suggested that there be no loudspeakers or PA system outside the school premises. There were reservations about this advice on health and safety grounds as the school would need the ability to communicate warnings to those in the playground and just outside the school buildings.
Objections had been received from local residents, including a petition. Two local residents attended to voice their objections.
The objectors mentioned that there was a significant amount of litter in the area and that there had been anti-social behaviour. The objectors expressed the opinion that they feared this would increase if there were more evening events at the school. In addition, the objectors were concerned at the lack of parking spaces in the area. People coming to events at the school added to the congestion in the area. The objectors thought this congestion would be further amplified as there were proposals to build a further 54 housing units in the area. The objectors stated that they saw the application as a commercial venture and not as something in keeping with the purpose of the school.
The applicant addressed the panel. The applicant stated that there was parking available in the school playground and so an event held at the school would not necessarily increase competition for parking spaces on the roads outside by a large amount. The applicant also disagreed with the view of the objectors that anti-social behaviour would be made worse by the provision of regulated entertainment at the premises.
The applicant mentioned to the panel that the existing legislation permitted them to hold private events on school premises. He was applying for the licence to ‘tidy up lose ends’ and to enable members of the public, those who were not children at the school or parents of children at the school or who were not those specifically invited, to attend a function without falling foul of the law. He stated that he anticipated no more than 20 events during the course of a year. Evening events at the school playing music would not be a regular occurrence.
Following summing up from both parties, the panel retired to deliberate.
RESOLVED:
The Sub-Committee resolved that the licence for the provision of regulated entertainment be granted.
As an informative, the Sub-Committee advised that the School inform patrons of the parking facilities in the playground and that litter bins be placed outside the school premises to reduce the amount of litter dropped by pupils and others.