Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

Resolved:

To elect Councillor Trevor Carbin as Chairman for this meeting only.

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

To consider and determine an Application for a Premises Licence by Wiltshire Council in respect of Durrington Development Centre for Young People, The Ham, Durrington, SP4 8HW

Application by Wiltshire Council for a Premises Licence at Durrington Development Centre for Young People, The Ham, Durrington, SP4 8HW

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

In accordance with the procedure detailed in the agenda, the Applicant and Interested Parties were given the opportunity to address the Sub-Committee.

Key points raised by Mr Kevin Sweeney on behalf of the Applicant were:

•      It was accepted that a number of local residents had objected to the opening of the Development Centre, however the applicant suggested that the number of days requested in the application could be reduced to the current usage to mitigate any local concerns.

•      There was no intention to have live music at the Centre and therefore the  applicant also asked for live music to be removed from the Licensable activities.

•      No expansion of the site was planned.

•      No formal complaints regarding noise, criminal damage or traffic had been received by police or Wiltshire Council officers.

•      Wiltshire Council was happy to continue to meet with local residents to address any concerns.

Opportunity was given to ask questions of the Applicant and Wiltshire Council

Officers by Members, and points including the following were raised:

•      There were no plans to drastically change the functioning or activities of the existing centre on the site; the application was merely to meet the licensing obligations.

•      It was confirmed that the Centre was currently open on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays evenings and Tuesday afternoons.  The applicant also suggested that the young people would like to hold fundraising events on Saturdays throughout the year.

•      The Police Community Support Officer occasionally visited the centre and has expressed support for the events held and the supervision of the events.

Key points raised by the Responsible Authority - Peter McMillan, Senior Environmental Health Officer were:

•      The construction of the building housing the Centre was inadequate for loud regulated entertainment

•      The nearest residential neighbours were very close to the building and would potentially be impacted from the comings and goings from the Centre

•      There was some history of complaints from people living nearby as a result of noise created by the young people attending the centre.

Key points raised by the Interested Parties – Mr C Pottage on behalf of local residents – Mrs H R Jones, Mr J & Mrs D Fields, Ms K Pottage, Mrs J Pottage, Mr K & Mrs T Buringham, Mr E & Mrs A Reeves, Mr & Mrs T Adaway and Mr Jones were:

•      The neighbours were concerned about the noise from the Centre, from traffic using the lane to access the Centre and the potential impact from live music.  There was particular concern about the bass beat that could be heard and felt from some distance away.

•      The local residents would support opening hours based on the current opening hours of 19:00hrs-21:00hrs Monday, Wednesday and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.