To elect a Chairman for the hearing.

Councillor P Jones CBE was elected as Chairman for the Regulatory Sub-Committee hearing.

To receive apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were received.

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

There were no substitutes present at the hearing.

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

There were no declarations of interest made.

To consider an application for a premises licence in respect of the Jamstand 2009, Caroline Symonds Gardens, Ross on Wye.

The Regulatory Sub-Committee was convened in order to determine an application for a new premises licence in respect of The Jamstand 2009, Ross-on-Wye. The application was submitted in accordance with Section 51 of the Licensing Act 2003.

The Chairman introduced the Members and Officers and asked any interested parties to introduce themselves. He advised them of the hearing procedures and asked if any party required an extension to the 10 minute time limit for public speaking, no extensions were requested.

The Licensing Officer presented the report and advised members that the applicant had agreed to all of the conditions recommended by the environmental health department.

PC Steve Thomas advised members that this was a difficult application for the police. He stated that 2 years ago the event operated under a TEN and around 200 people turned up. Last year the event also operated under a TEN but around 1500-2000 turned up, considerably more than the 499 people permitted under a TEN. He went on to add that after reading the Jamstand website it was apparent that more than 499 people were expected this time, with police estimating numbers of between 3000 and 4000.

He advised members that police officers had to intervene at the end of the previous years event as the bands over ran. A number of intoxicated people were not happy about police turning off the music and made their feelings known.

PC Thomas stated that the application was submitted in early June but that the police were not happy with it as it was deemed to be inadequate as it contained no details of control measures and Section P of the application form did not contain enough information under the prevention of crime and disorder. Since then the applicant has submitted an Event Management Plan which has been revised a number of times. He added that the Police still had concerns relating to the number of attendees and control measures as the organisers have no idea how many people will attend. He also felt that the plan submitted with the application form was not acceptable. Mr J Baldus produced a signed and dated receipt from the West Mercia Police confirming that an A1 site plan had been received by the police on 13 June 2007, PC Thomas stated that this document had not been passed to him.

PC Thomas felt that the proposed number of stewards was insufficient. He noted that the proposal was to have two stewards at the bar, two at the dance tent, leaving two stewards to cover the rest of the site. He advised members that the event had not been the subject of organised Policing in the previous 2 years and that the applicant’s risk assessment stated that they did not need police on site this year.

He went on to voice concerns over the proposed escape route from the site as it passed the river which in his opinion was a danger. He was also concerned that the current Event Management  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.