To note that at Annual Council on 13th May Councillor R.I. Matthews was elected Chairman for the ensuing year and Councillor Brig P Jones CBE was appointed Vice-Chairman.

It was noted that at Annual Council on 13th May Councillor R.I. Matthews was elected Chairman for the ensuing year and Councillor Brig. P. Jones C.B.E. was appointed Vice-Chairman.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors D.J. Fleet, Brig. P. Jones CBE, and G. Lucas.

To receive details of any Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

There were no substitutions made.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on the Agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 12th April, 2005.

RESOLVED:   That the Minutes of the meeting held on 12th April, 2005 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To note the procedural arrangements for the meeting.

The Committee noted the procedural arrangements for hearing appeals to ensure that the laws of natural justice were followed to give a fair hearing for applicants and to the Licensing Officers.

To consider an application for a finishing time later than the current policy of 03.00 hours for an Occasional Public Entertainment Licence.

Ward: Bromyard

Consideration was given to a report in respect of an application from Mr. P. Nosworthy for an Occasional Public Entertainment Licence with a finishing time of later than 0300 hours, which was set out in the Council’s policies.  The Licensing Manager provided the Committee with details of the Council’s policies for granting Public Entertainment Licenses and said that the finishing time of not later than 0300 hours was in place to protect the local community and individuals from disturbance by events involving music, singing and dancing.  She also advised that the Committee would need to have regard to the implications of any decisions it made which would relate to the provision of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.  She added that the Police had no objections to the application; and that neither had the Fire Authority and Area Environmental Health Manager, subject to their respective conditions being met if the application was approved.

Mr. P. Nosworthy and Ms. L. Horseman presented the application for a finishing time of 5:00 am in respect of their music festival to be held on 23rd July 2005 at Rowden Paddocks, Bromyard. They explained the steps that would be put in place to minimise noise and disturbance and outlined the arrangements for car parking and security, and the likely number of those who would be attending. 

At the conclusion of the application the Officers, Mr. Nosworthy, and Ms. Horseman withdrew from the meeting whilst consideration was given to the application.  Having considered all the facts in relation to the application, the Committee whilst mindful of the Council’s policies took the view that satisfactory evidence had been given to suggest that the event would be well supervised in a responsible manner.  The Committee decided that the extension of hours should be granted. The applicant and the Officers were invited back to the meeting and were informed of the decision.

RESOLVED:               That an Occasional Public Entertainment Licence be granted to Mr. P. Nosworthy in respect of his music festival on 23rd July, 2005 with a finishing time of 5.00 a.m. on 24th July, 2005 at Rowden Paddocks, Bromyard subject to:

(a)   the applicant fulfilling all of the conditions imposed by the Police, Fire Authority and the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards; and

(b)  the applicant first agreeing final details of the event with the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards, satisfying his requirements regarding car parking, stewarding, minimisation of noise nuisance and providing him with a responsible contact person for the event.

In the opinion of the Proper Officer, the following item will not be, or is likely not to be, open to the public and press at the time it is considered.

RESOLVED:that under section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12(A) of the Act, as indicated below

This item discloses information relating to any particular applicant for or recipient of or former recipient of, any service provided by the authority.

To consider an application for a dual hackney carriage/private hire drivers licence.

The Licensing Manager presented a report about an application for a dual hackney carriage and private hire driver’s license.  She explained issues relating to the requirement to disclose any criminal convictions and police cautions.  The applicant was given the opportunity to address the Committee in respect of his application.

Having considered all the facts put forward by the Licensing Manager and the applicant, the Committee decided that the application should be granted.