Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report opf the Head of Licensing and Registration.

The report of the Head of Licensing and Registration presented an application for a premises licence at Garforth Cricket and Social Club, Church Lane, Garforth.

The application was for the following:

Supply of Alcohol for consumption both on and off the premises:

Live Music to take place indoors:

Recorded music to take place indoors:

Everyday  11:00 – 23:00

Times when premises are open to the public:

Everyday  11:00 – 23:30

Non Standard Timings:

Easter Saturday  11:00 – 23:45

Christmas Eve  11:00 – 23:45

Boxing Day  11:00 – 23:45

New Years Eve  11:00 – 00:30

It was reported that the Club already had a Club premises certificate that allowed similar activities between the hours of 11:00 to 23:00 Monday to Saturday and 12:00 to 22:30 on a Sunday.  Representations had been received from Environmental Health and these had been resolved.  There had been no other representations from responsible authorities.

The applicant addressed the sub-committee and highlighted the following issues:

·  The cricket club had purchased the site in 2010 and now owned all the land including the car park.

·  The aims of the club including the promotion of cricket and provision of facilities for other sports.

·   The application was to offer social facilities, income generation and provide an environment for families.  The premises was already licensed for the sale of alcohol and live music and the granting of the application would allow facilities to be used by the general public as well as club members.

·  The club would not necessarily utilise the fill hours available every day and live music events were only held approximately once per month.

·  There had been isolated noise problems in the past and action had been taken to prevent a reoccurrence of these.

·  The application would only allow the club to operate as currently with the exception that certain events would be open to members of the public as well as club members.  The club had been operating at a loss since the purchase of the site and this would help to prevent any further losses which the club could not sustain.

A local Ward Councillor and local residents addressed the sub-committee and raised the following concerns:

·  The premises were located in a highly populated residential area and although it was appreciated that the club had made efforts to reduce noise and disturbance it was felt that from the high number of objections from local residents that the current licensing arrangements be retained.

·  Concerns regarding noise disturbance and noise from car doors particularly on an evening and at weekends.

·  Concerns regarding the potential for drunken behaviour in the local vicinity.

·  Further to concerns regarding the potential for music to be played 12 hours a day, it was reported that the full hours would not be used on a daily basis and that there would be no outdoor amplification of music.

·  Further concern was raised regarding the siting of containers that were used for storage and changing facilities.  It was reported that relevant planning permission had been granted for these.

In summary to the application and representations made, the applicant re-iterated that music would only be played indoors and it was not intended to turn the club into a public house style operation.  The granting of the licence would give the club opportunity to open to the general public on occasion when it suited the clubs requirements.  The clubs clientele was mainly families and older people and it was felt that any disturbance was more likely to come from customers of other premises in the area.

Further discussion included concern regarding the lack of consultation with local residents, potential for further noise mitigation measures and

RESOLVED – That the licence be granted as applied for with the exception of Sundays when all activities are to cease at 22:30.  The management committee of the club also to meet with local residents on a 6 monthly basis and minutes of these meetings to be submitted to the licensing authority.