Agenda item

To consider and determine an Application for a Time Limited Premises Licence for the Wiltshire Throwback Festival made by Jarboom Limited at Melksham Rugby and Football Club, Eastern Way, Melksham.  The report of the Principal Licensing Officer is attached.

Application by Jarboom Limited for a Time Limited Premises Licence for the Wiltshire Throwback Festival, Melksham Rugby and Football Club, Eastern Way, Melksham  

 

Licensing Officer’s Submission 

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The Sub Committee gave consideration to a report (circulated with the agenda) in which determination was sought for an application for a time limited premises licence, presented?by Roy Bahadoor (Principal Licensing Officer) for which three relevant representations had been received from Wiltshire Police as a Responsible Authority, from Wiltshire Council Highways Team and from Melksham Town Council.   

 

It was noted by the Sub Committee that there were 4 options available to them: 

 

 i.           To grant the licence subject to such conditions as are consistent with those included in the operating schedule submitted with the application, modified to such extent as the Sub Committee considers appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives, together with any mandatory conditions required by the Licensing Act. 

ii.           To exclude from the scope of the application any licensable activity. 

iii.           To refuse to specify a person as the designated premises supervisor.  

iv.           To reject the application. 

 

On 18 March 2025 an application for a 3 day time limited premises licence for Friday 20 to Sunday 22 June 2025 was received by the Licensing Authority and accepted as a valid application. It was however noted that the blue notices advertising the notification of the application did not match the timings included with the application form and so the application was amended on 1 April 2025 in line with what was advertised on the blue notice.   

 

The amended application as at 1 April 2025 was for the following licensable activities: 

 

Licensable Activity	Timings	Days
Provision of regulated entertainment    Live music and recorded music	16:00 – 23:00  13:00 – 23:00  12:00 – 20:00	Friday 20 June 2025  Saturday 21 June 2025  Sunday 22 June 2025
Sale of alcohol (for consumption on the premises)	16:00 – 23:00  13:00 – 23:00  12:00 – 20:00	Friday 20 June 2025  Saturday 21 June 2025  Sunday 22 June 2025

 

Two Event Safety Advisory Group meetings were held on 3 March and 31 March 2025 to discuss the organisation and management of the event.  The representations raised concerns regarding the prevention of public nuisance, the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and the protection of children from harm.   

 

It was noted that in accordance with the Event Management Plan that it was the Applicant’s intention to not seek permission for any licensable activities on Sunday 22 June and that the event capacity would not exceed 3000 people at any one time. 

 

On 23 and 27 May 2025 all three representations were withdrawn after the objections had been resolved and proposed actions and policies had mitigated their concerns to a satisfactory level. 

 

The decision appeals process was then explained to all those present. 

 

The following parties attended the hearing and took part in it: 

 

On behalf of the Applicant  

·            Mr Gary Cooke – Jarboom Limited 

·            Mr Nico Menghini – Jarboom Limited 

 

Responsible Authorities – Wiltshire Police  

·            As their representation had been withdrawn the Police representatives 

        were not present at the meeting. 

  

Relevant Representations  

·            Matthew Perrot – Highways Operations, Wiltshire Council – As the 

        representation had been withdrawn there was no Highways representative present at the meeting. 

 

·            Cllr Andrew Griffin on behalf of Melksham Town Council – As the Town  

        Council’s representation had been withdrawn there were no Melksham  

        Town Council representatives present at the meeting. 

 

The Chair advised that the written representations had been read and considered by the members of the Sub Committee in advance of the meeting.  

 

The Chairman asked the Applicants to confirm all of the days and timings for licensable activity so that it was clear for all what was to be considered by the Licensing Sub Committee. 

 

The Applicants confirmed the following was being applied for: 

 

 

 

 

 

Licensable Activity	Timings	Days
Provision of regulated entertainment      Live music and recorded music	18:00 – 23:00  14:00 – 23:00	Friday 20 June 2025  Saturday 21 June 2025
Sale of alcohol (for consumption on the premises)	16:00 – 23:00  13:00 – 23:00	Friday 20 June 2025  Saturday 21 June 2025

 

The Applicants also confirmed that the event would be limited in attendance to 3000 at any time.   

 

The Chair invited the Applicant to introduce their application. 

 

Applicant’s submission 

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The Applicant/s (Nico Menghini and Gary Cooke) spoke in support of the application, highlighting the following points: 

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·            Their application had been met with a few objections and they had worked really hard to overcome the concerns raised. Changes and improvements to the events’ organisation were fast moving and they had put in work to mitigate concerns and put those who had made representation at ease; 

 

·            Although they had missed the Melksham Town Council meetings to discuss this with them, they had since met with them, explained their plans on how they would mitigate their concerns and be able to uphold the licensing objectives; 

 

·            They had worked tirelessly to start a brand new event for Melksham in a venue that they felt lent itself to such an event.  They had started the planning work 18 months ago and started doing the admin work in early January 2025.  It had taken a while to get to this stage as there were lot of moving parts to bring together an event that was safe and fun for all involved; and 

 

·            They had been involved with the Melksham Rugby Club and Football club for a number of years and felt that they had shown they were able to manage an event of this size.  They had listened to the advice received and would always work to provide a community based event which they would like to be profitable as they wished to repeat it in the future but safety was their main concern.  They felt they had worked well with the relevant authorities so that they are satisfied and that this event could be taken forward for years to come. 

 

 

Sub Committee Member’s questions 

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In response to the Members questions to the Applicant, the following points of clarification were given: 

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·            The Applicants had experience of events and one employed 70 staff and the other was involved with live events and productions for a number of years.  The Applicants had put together an experienced team of staff to help manage and run the event and for some of those this would be a small event for them in comparison to other events they would normally attend.  No expense had been spared and the withdrawal of the representations had shown that the parties were satisfied with the plans of how the event was to be run; 

 

·            A lot of support had been given to the Applicants from Wiltshire Council and others and this had taken up a vast amount of Officers time and resources to enable the Applicants to put together a safe and well run event which was submitted for approval close to the event.  Officers had tried to accommodate the hearing in light of local elections and arrange a hearing as soon as possible post elections so that it was determined as soon as possible.  The application process had been a learning process for the Applicants and they now understood the process and how it works to bring it together and this would be factored into any future applications; 

 

·            One of the Applicants had experience in the sale of alcohol and had worked in the Melksham Rugby Club bar for a number of years.  He understood the licensing objectives and what should and should not be allowed in bars.  A lot of the event was being managed by companies with more experience than the Applicants, although they would be overseeing the event.  The safety and security and transport companies contracted were all extremely competent and they would all be working together to deal with any anomalies as they arose; 

 

·            The event site would be secured by Heras fencing and would be patrolled by a security firm during the whole event.  The bar company contracted for the event was very experienced (work at Glastonbury Festival) and they would be selling alcohol from two large marquees; and 

 

·            It was hoped that this would become an annual event. 

 

Responsible Authorities’ submissions 

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·            There were no Responsible Authorities present.   

 

Submissions from those who made relevant representations  

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·            There were no other parties present.  

 

Applicant’s closing submission 

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The Applicant did not wish to add anything as their closing submission. 

 

The Sub Committee then adjourned at 11.54am and retired with the Legal representative and the Democratic Services Officer to consider their determination on the licensing application. 

 

The Hearing reconvened at 12.04pm. 

 

The Legal Adviser advised that he gave no significant legal advice to the Sub Committee as the representations had been withdrawn prior to the hearing. 

 

Decision  

 

The Western Area Licensing Sub Committee RESOLVED:? 

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Arising from consideration of the report, the evidence and submissions from all parties and having regard to the Statutory Guidance, the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and the Licensing Act 2003, the application for a Time Limited Premises Licence in respect of the Wiltshire Throwback Festival, Melksham Football and Rugby Club, Eastern Way, Melksham, be GRANTED for the licensable activities as shown below: 

 

Licensable Activity	Timings	Days
Provision of regulated entertainment    Live music and recorded music	18:00 – 23:00  14:00 – 23:00	Friday 20 June 2025  Saturday 21 June 2025
Sale of alcohol (for consumption on the premises)	16:00 – 23:00  13:00 – 23:00	Friday 20 June 2025  Saturday 21 June 2025

 

Subject to the following condition as agreed by the Applicant in advance of the meeting: 

 

That the event will be run in full accordance with the finalised Event Management Plan which includes detailed Organisation Structure, Noise Management, Traffic Management, Security, Medical Provisions, Safeguarding, Risk Assessments, Fire Safety, Crowd Management, Drugs and Alcohol Policies, and Emergency Procedures and Infrastructure. 

 

Reasons 

 

In reaching its decision, the Sub Committee considered all the written evidence and noted that the three representations received from Wiltshire Police, Wiltshire Council Highways Team and Melksham Town Council were withdrawn prior to the hearing as they were satisfied that the work to mitigate their concerns had been met. 

 

They accepted the amendment to the application which was confirmed at the meeting that this would be a time limited premises licence for Friday 20 and Saturday 21 June only and that the event would be limited in attendance to 3000 at any time.   

 

In addition, the Sub Committee considered the relevant provisions of the Licensing Act 2003; the four Licensing Objectives; the guidance issued under Section 182 of the Act and the Licensing Policy of Wiltshire Council. They heard no evidence that the Applicant would fail to promote the licensing objectives. 

 

Right to Appeal 

 

The Premises Licence Holder, any Responsible Authority(ies) and Interested Parties who made representations were informed that they may appeal the decision made by the Licensing Sub Committee to the Magistrates Court. The appeal must be lodged with the Magistrates Court within 21 days of the written notification of the decision.  In the event of an appeal being lodged, the decision made by the Licensing Sub Committee remains valid until any appeal is heard and any decision made by the Magistrates Court.