Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration on an application for a Temporary Event Notice for Bramley Sports And Social Club Live Boxing Show At The Villagers Community Club, 340 Broad Lane, Bramley, Leeds, LS13 2HF.

The TEN applied for is for a Charity Boxing night and in summary the temporary event notice is for sale by retail of alcohol and provision of late night refreshment on  Friday 18th November 19:30 - 23:00 hours. The maximum capacity of the event is 450.

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a Late Item of business to the agenda – a report on an application for a Temporary Event Notice, The Villagers Community Club, 340 Broad Lane, Bramley, Leeds, LS13 2HF. In summary the TEN sought the sale of alcohol and provision of Late Night Refreshment on Friday 18th November 19:30 - 23:00 hours. The maximum capacity of the event is 450.

The Sub Committee accepted the item as the application related to a proposed event on 18th November 2016 and as West Yorkshire Police (WYP) had served an objection notice to the TEN on the grounds of crime and disorder, the Authority was required to determine the application as soon as possible.

Mr P Owen, the applicant and Designated Premises Supervisor attended the hearing accompanied by Mr A Taylor, the event manager. Ms C Sanderson of WYP also attended.

Mr Taylor addressed the Sub Committee explaining that £10,000 of sponsorship had already been secured for the proposed Charity Boxing night in aid of the Candlelighters children’s cancer charity. He added that there had been trouble at previous charity events. A world famous referee had been commissioned to referee this event.

Mr Owen then addressed the concerns expressed in the written representation submitted by WYP. He stated that the objection stemmed from a few previous boxing events which had attracted disorder amongst youths, although 18 similar events in total had been held. Mr Owen explained that the 18/11/16 event would be very different – this would be a charitable evening and would attract more mature attendees. The organisation and style of this event would be very different - the event is a ticketed only event, a large proportion of the ticket holders were known to the DPS; boxing would be just one of a number of entertainments on offer including a singer, a comedian and an auction of sporting memorabilia with an MC to compere the event. ProTech Security would provide 6 SIA registered doorstaff for the event. Mr Owen stated that he was confident that the 18/11/16 event would not attract disorder issues as most of the attendees belonged to the same friendship group and the boxing featured would be non-competitive.

Ms Sanderson then addressed the Sub Committee on behalf of WYP. She confirmed that the objection had been made due to the inclusion of boxing on the programme of the event and the history of disorder associated with boxing events at the premises. Ms Sanderson explained that a boxing club operated from the ground floor of the Community Club and events had been held there previously. In February 2014 a serious incident occurred after a boxing event and after the doorstaff had been sent home when patrons who had left the venue tried to re-gain entry. After an event in September 2015, a group of up to 100 people were fighting and blocking Broad Lane. Ms Sanderson noted that the venue attracted anti-social behaviour involving youths and due to the disorder which had occurred at some of the events, provision of boxing had been removed from the premises licence for the Community Club.

Since then, Temporary events had been held on the 11th March, 1st July and 28th October 2016. The activities requested were the sale by retail of alcohol and the provision of regulated entertainment. As no objections had been received, these TENs went ahead – however the October 2016 event also resulted in fighting. Ms Sanderson noted that Mr Owen had asked to meet with WYP to discuss the 18/11/16 event and he had stated that this would include ‘white collar’ boxing matches, however she felt that Mr Owen could not guarantee the clientele as it was known that boxers would sell their own batch of tickets. Additionally, although she was pleased that ProTech Security had been engaged, she was concerned that local youths who were used to gaining entry to the venue would still try to attend the event and possibly cause disorder.

During discussions with the applicant, the following information was provided:

-  At the 2014 event, Mr Owen confirmed that once the event had finished, he had sent the doorstaff home but then people came back.

-  He had learned from this earlier mistake and had had meetings with WYP and removed boxing from the Premises Licence

-  Three TEN events had been held this year, two successfully and one not so. Mr Owen stated that the person arrested on that night was already known to WYP.

-  Mr Owen agreed that at that time, he had told WYP that he would not hold a boxing event again

Members, noting that that they could only attach conditions to the TEN which already existed on the current Premises Licence and were relevant to the activities stated on the TEN sought input from Ms Sanderson on whether there was anything else the applicant could do. In response Ms Sanderson reiterated her concern that the applicant could not guarantee that only over 25’s would attend the event. Fighters sold tickets wherever they wanted, so attendees may bring children and youths to the event. Historically, it tended to be family and friends at boxing matches who caused trouble between the groups of supporters. It was unfortunate that this venue also attracted disorder from youths unconnected to this particular event.

In response Mr Owen clarified that all ticket purchasers’ names had been recorded for this event. Family and friends of the boxers due to fight at the event would actually have had to purchase tickets from one supplier. Mr Owens also explained the events which caused WYP concern. Previously the Community Club had hosted a 13th and 15th year old birthday party, however the 15 year old advertised the party on Facebook and 250 attendees arrived, some with foreign alcohol. Even though that alcohol was confiscated and those attendees were barred, disorder occurred. Mr Owen stated he had not held similar youth events again. He went onto explain that usually local boxers with local families attended the clubs’ boxing events; and that is what attracted the local youths. This Candlelighters event proposed for 18/11/16 would be different, with only 30 minutes of boxing included during the evening – 5 rounds of 2 minutes each – as opposed to the usual 18 concurrent fights. He also added that he advised local ward Councillors of the proposed events and no issues had been raised.

The Sub-Committee carefully considered the steps available which it considered appropriate to promote the licensing objectives and noted the submissions made by the applicant and the representative of WYP both in writing and at the hearing. The Sub Committee noted the summary provided of the proposed event, including the entertainment to be offered – of which boxing was only part. Members also noted the management of ticket sales and that this event had been marketed as a charity event to persons over 25 years old.

RESOLVED – Not to issue a Counter Notice in order to allow the event to go ahead - subject to all relevant conditions which are currently attached to the premises licence for the Hall.

In conclusion the Sub Committee commented that the employment of 6 doorstaff for the 18/11/16 event was welcomed. Additionally, Members clarified that this application for the charity event had been judged on the basis of what was presented to them and should not be seen as an indication of consideration of any future applications for the venue.