To consider  an Occasional Public Entertainment application that requests a finishing time later than the current policy of 0100 hours.

Ward:

Consideration was given to a report in respect of an application from Radnor and West Herefordshire Hunt for an Occasional Public Entertainment Licence with a finishing time of later than 0100 hours, which was set out in the Council’s policies.  The Principle Trading Standards Officer provided the Committee with details of the Council’s policies for granting Public Entertainment Licences and said that the finishing time of not later than 0100 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 Fire Authority and the Police had no objections to the application and that the Area Environmental Health Manager had also raised none, subject to certain conditions being imposed on the licence if the application was approved.

Mrs Gardner presented the application by Radnor and West Herefordshire Hunt for a finishing time of 2:00 am in respect of the Hunt Ball to be held on Saturday 19th February, 2005 in a Marquee at The Old Cinema Shobdon.  She said that the event had been held at various venues within the County during previous years and that no problems had been encountered.  She 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 Mrs Gardner and the Officers 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 Mrs Gardner had given satisfactory evidence to suggest that the event would be well supervised in a responsible manner.  The Committee decided that the extension of hours should be granted, but only because of the exceptional circumstances involved.  There were some concerns about the short timescale involved to determine the application but noted that there had not been a Committee meeting scheduled since the last meeting on 14th December and that at that time the application was still going through the consultation process.  The applicant and the Officers were then invited back to the meeting and were informed of the decision.

RESOLVED:               That an Occasional Public Entertainment Licence be granted to Radnor and West Herefordshire Hunt in respect of their Hunt Ball on Saturday 19th February, 2005 between 7.30 pm and 3.00am at The Old Cinema Shobdon subject to:

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