Agenda item

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory requests Member’s consideration on an application for the grant of a premises licence made by Leeds Culture Trust, for Headingley Rugby Stadium, St Michaels Lane, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 3BR. The application is made for a time-limited licence to host the opening event as part of the Leeds 2023 Year of Culture Programme.

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory advised Members of an application made under section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 ("the Act") for a new premises licence in respect of an application for the grant of a premises licence for Leeds Culture Trust, Headingley Rugby Stadium, St Michaels Lane, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 3BR

In attendance at the meeting were:

·  Matthew Phipps – Applicants Representative

·  Thomas Reilly – Director of Production

·  Hector Macpherson Brown – Event Manager and DPS

·  Chris Ansell – Head of Creative Learning and Engagement

The Licensing Officer presented the application, providing the following information:

• Headingley Stadium has the benefit of a number of premises licences which are in situ to cover live events, specific stands, terraces and pavilions within the stadium.
• This application related to the premises known as the rugby stadium and included the rugby pitch and all four stands which sit within the rugby stadia at Headingley Stadium. A charity called Leeds Culture Trust, who wishes to use the Stadium for a one day event, are celebrating all the cultural aspects that make Leeds a brilliant city. Leeds Culture Trust sought a licence for single use to facilitate the delivery of the event.
• The main activity would be taking place on a specially commissioned stage, mounted on the Western Terrace of the Stadium. Audiences would be seated in the North, South and East stands, as well as standing on the pitch.
• The application was for a time limited operating schedule of 10 days between the 5th and 16th January 2023, to be used on one day only on either a Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday during the schedule. This is a contingency measure in the instance that the event is required to be moved at short notice due to external factors, i.e. adverse weather conditions.
• The proposed designated premises supervisor is Hector Macpherson Brown.
• The application is for:
  • Sale of alcohol, performance of a play, exhibition of a film, live music, recorded music, performance of dance and entertainment of a similar description to these activities.
  • Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday – 15:00 until 21:00
• The applicant’s intention is to deliver the event in the afternoon/early evening, on Saturday 7th January 2023. It is envisaged that the main show of the event would last no more than 120 minutes. A redacted version of the application had been appended to the submitted report at Appendix A.
• The applicant proposed to promote the licensing objectives by taking the steps identified in both section M of the application form and the completed pro-forma risk assessment attached at Appendix B of the report.
• A map identifying the location of the premises was attached to the report at Appendix C.
• There had been no representations from the responsible authorities. However, the application had attracted a representation from a member of the public opposed to the application on the grounds of public nuisance. A redacted copy of the representation was attached at Appendix D of the report.
• A list of premises in the local area and their licensed hours and activities was provided at Appendix E of the submitted report.

Mr Phipps provided the following information to support the application:

• This was an application for a single time limited event to be held at Headingley Stadium for the opening ceremony ‘The Awakening’ for the Leeds Year of Culture 2023. This was to start the celebrations which included 12 large events to be hosted in the city through 2023.
• This event proposed a stage on the Western Terrace to show a variety of acts, including music and dance.
• The application proposed that the event was to be held on 7^th January 2023. However, due to the time of year and considering weather conditions the application requested a 10 day permission should the event not be able to go ahead on the 7^th January 2023. It was noted that this event would only be for 1 day starting at 3pm and finishing at 9pm with 30 minutes drinking up time. It was proposed that the acts would be on stage between 5pm and 7pm only.
• This event was to be a free family event, but it would be ticketed. Tickets would be made available to those who submitted a piece of artwork.
• Engagement had taken place with West Yorkshire Police, it was noted that crowd management and risk assessments had been provided and accepted. It was noted that rigorous checks had been applied including the Check 25 proof of age scheme. Members were also advised that all children attending would need to be accompanied by an adult. Members noted that this was not a concert, so there would not be continuous music and that a complaints line was to be offered between 5pm and 7pm. It was not proposed that the floodlights be used for the event.
• The application had also taken into consideration parking and taxi drop off and pick up. Members were advised that there would be shuttlebuses to the event from the city centre.
• Members noted that communication had been attempted with the single objector to the application, but no response had been received. Consultation had also taken place with the responsible authorities, the local ward councillors and at community events.
• Members were advised that the event management plan was comprehensive and went above and beyond addressing all issues.

In response to questions from Members the Licensing Sub Committee were provided with the following information:

·  Consultation was to take place with residents living near the stadium on two dates 4 weeks apart. The first would look at the concerns of the residents and the second provide information to the residents on how the concerns raised were to be addressed.

·  The shuttlebuses would be provided by first bus and liaison with them was still ongoing as to the drop off point. The shuttlebuses would be from the city centre. However, Members suggested that the shuttlebuses should also be provided from the areas around the city centre to avoid people travelling into the centre especially by car to get on them. People wishing to use the shuttlebuses would be provided with a link on their tickets as to where they could get on.

·  A coning plan similar to that used for the Warrington fight would be used for people wishing to travel by car and the event organisers were liaising with taxi companies as to pick up and drop off points.

·  The submission for the pieces of art was proposed to be inclusive and could take the form of bakes, paintings, drawings, sculptures etc. It was proposed that these would be digital and could be shown at other events throughout the year. The submissions would also be on view at the stadium during the ‘Awakening’ event. It was hoped that they would also form part of the archive of the events from throughout the year.

·  Members were advised that the length of the event until 9pm was in case there were delays to any of the acts due to weather conditions.

·  The stadium can hold 19,999, it was the aspiration of the organisers to attract around 15,000 people to the event. It was noted that this was in line with current safety certificate for the stadium.

The Members considered all the information presented to them on the day and the information provided to them as part of the report including concerns of the objector.

RESOLVED – To grant as applied for.