Agenda, decisions and minutes

Nominations for a Chairman of the Licensing Sub Committee were sought and it was

Resolved:

To elect Councillor Allison Bucknell as Chairman for this meeting only.

To receive any apologies for absence and to note any substitutions.

Apologies were received from Councillors Simon Jacobs (Cllr Trevor Carbin substitute member) and from Councillor James Sheppard (Cllr Bill Douglas substitute member).

The Chairman explained the procedure to be followed at the hearing, as contained within the “Wiltshire Licensing Committee Procedural Rules for the Hearing of Licensing Act 2003 Applications” (Pages 5 - 11 of the Agenda refers).

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

To consider and determine an application for a variation of a Premises Licence in respect of Calne Winter and Summer Festivals, The Strand, Calne made by Calne Town Council.  The report of the Public Protection Officer (Licensing) is attached.

Application by Calne Town Council for a variation of a Premises Licence in respect of Calne Winter and Summer Festivals.

The Licensing Officer introduced the purpose and scope of the application, the premises to which it related and the key issues for consideration.  She highlighted the following:

·                This was an application for a variation of a Premises Licence to increase the number of people permitted to attend to 9,999.  The current Premises Licence permits a maximum of 4,999; and

·                During the consultation process, one relevant representation was received citing concerns over anti-social behaviour and criminal damage causing public nuisance.

There were no representatives on behalf of the Applicant present at the hearing and in accordance with the procedure detailed in the agenda, the written submission from the Applicant was noted and the person who had made a Relevant Representation was given the opportunity to address the Sub Committee.

Key points raised by Jon Jones who made a relevant representation were:

·               My property is on the high street and I experience a persistent level of anti-social behaviour from patrons who frequent the town, especially when they have been drinking alcohol;

·               I have tried to work with the Police to minimise the anti-social behaviour aspects that I suffer and the problems increase when there are large events held in the Town;

·               I am frustrated that following these events there appears to be no follow up to make improvements for future events.  These events are well meaning for the town and I support them but there is no feedback loop and problems that are reported occur again as they have not been dealt with;

·               I spend a lot of my time stuck in processes to report incidents and nothing seems to improve.  Linda Holland, Licensing Manager for the Council has told me that she is conscious and aware that she is not getting all of the relevant information from Wiltshire Police, i.e. reported incidents that back up the problems that are being suffered;

·               I feel there is a failure in the process and incidents are not being monitored accurately with the relevant information being passed along the chain.  I had included an email from my local Police Officer, Benjamin Huggins and note that this was not included within the Agenda papers;

·               When the Bike Fest event happened the employed security ended when the event did although the revellers were still in the Town Centre and using my gateway as a toilet;

·               I am concerned about how Calne Town Council manages their events.  I expect some inconvenience when these events are on, for example noise and not being able to get my car in and out, but not people urinating by my property;

·               I can document that I have reported these incidents (as I have installed my own CCTV outside my property) and images of perpetrators have been passed on to the Police to try and identify the individuals so that they can be fined for the offence; and

·               I spent time re-wording the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.