Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory

The report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory presented an application to vary a Premises Licence held by South Stand, Emerald Headingley Stadium, St Michaels Lane, Headingley Lane, Leeds, LS6 3BR.

Prior to the hearing all parties present agreed to the hearing going ahead in the presence of two Members.

The variation was to add the provisions of live music, recorded music and the performance of dance on Sundays from 12:00 until 22:30 hours.

The application had received representations from local residents largely relating to concerns about noise nuisance.  There had not been any representations from the responsible authorities.

The following were in attendance for this application:

-  Mr Willis, Chadwick Lawrence

-  Susan Ward, Applicant

-  John Hill, Designated Premises Supervisor

-  Nicky Ford, Local Resident

The applicant’s representative addressed the Sub-Committee.  Issues highlighted included the following:

·  An acoustic report had been carried out and the applicant had agreed to carry out the mitigating measures as recommended in the report.

·  Should the licence be granted, it would only be used on occasions of Leeds Rhinos and Yorkshire Carnegie matches.

·  The proposed mitigation measures had been endorsed by Environmental Health.

·  Business would be conducted so as not to be a public nuisance.

·  Noise would be monitored at various locations when the public address system was in operation.

·  The applicant intended to work with local residents.  There had been a stadium liaison group meeting in January 2019 and a further meeting was planned this month.

·  It was reported that there were currently 5 Leeds Rhino games scheduled.  This could increase with cup games, up to approximately 9 games.  Yorkshire Carnegie fixtures had not yet been announced but there could be 16 or 17 games in total.

A local resident addressed the Sub-Committees with concerns and objections to the application.  These included the following:

·  Concern regarding the level of consultation – the forthcoming consultation meeting was not known about.

·  Local residents were confused due to the various applications that had been submitted.

·  Reference was made to previous investigations carried out by Environmental Health due to noise disturbance.

·  Concern that the application was purely to make money from additional events. 

·  Noise from the stadium prevented people from enjoying their personal space.  There were already noise problems in the area.  The resident said that she did not mind the noise from crowds attending sporting events but was concerned about noise from music events.

·  There was an increasing number of children living in the area.

·  Disturbance due to high footfall when the stadium was in use.

In response, the applicant’s representative reported that all procedures had been followed with regard to advertising the applications and made further reference to the forthcoming public consultation meeting.  There was no intention to hold any music events and the application for live music would generally be used for Sunday fixtures should it be granted.

Further to questions from the sub-committee, the applicant informed the meeting that they had an obligation to host a Stadium Liaison Group and that this was chaired by Headingley Councillors.

The Licensing Sub-Committee carefully considered the report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory, the Statement of Licensing Policy and the representations submitted and made at the hearing.

RESOLVED – That the application be granted as applied for.