To receive apologies for absence.

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

There were no substitutes present at the meeting.

To receive declarations of interest in respect of items on the agenda.

To consider an application for a grant of an occasional premises licence in respect of Dorstone Playing Fields under the Licensing Act 2003.

Members of the licensing Sub-Committee from the Council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee considered the above application, full details of which appeared before the members in their agenda and the supplement published on 14 May 2024.

Prior to making its decision the Council’s Principal Licensing Officer presented the report which outlined the options available to the Sub-Committee. Two representations offering conditions were received from Environmental Protection and Trading Standards who act as Responsible Authorities.  The conditions were agreed with the applicant. One further representation was received from West Mercia Police as a Responsible Authority offering conditions which have been agreed with the applicant. Following the representations received from the Responsible Authorities, the applicant amended the application by offering additional conditions to limit the number of events. These additional conditions were contained in the supplement published on 14 May 2024. Twenty-one (21) relevant representation have been received from members of the public, that the licensing authority have accepted as being relevant; two public representations were received from members of the public during the consultation period but were rejected as not being relevant.

The Sub-Committee heard from the public representatives that:

·       The application would cause noise and public nuisance which would have an adverse effect upon the local community. The large number of people attending events at Dorstone Playing Fields, associated increased traffic and amplified music would cause a disturbance locally.

·       It was felt that the applicant had not complied with the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003 or the Herefordshire Statement of Licensing Policy 2020/2025 in consulting with the local community and advertising the application appropriately. It was also queried if the requirement for an operating schedule had been completed as required in the licensing policy.

·       It was proposed that an application which restricted the festival to 700 people, reduced the hours the premises was open, removed the two smaller events and further limited the period over the summer to hold the festival could have the support of the local community.

·       It was disappointing that none of the Responsible Authorities were present at the meeting and doubt was expressed that the conditions proposed by Environmental Protection, Trading Standards and West Mercia Police had been agreed or put into effect.

·       The festival and site plan would encourage drug taking and drug dealing.

·       A risk assessment of the festival would require consideration of entrances and exits from the site and the management of the marquee which stored and sold alcohol.

·       The reference to the case of Thwaitesas legal precedent was erroneous as the case concerned the variation of an application; the application under consideration was for a new premises licence.

·       The festival would have an adverse impact upon the trade of the local public house; undermine the human rights of the local publican; and should be subject to the same level of restrictions and conditions imposed upon the local public house.

·       Anti-social behaviour had been observed at the festival in 2023 but no complaints had been raised with the Responsible Authorities as it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.