Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Officer (Elections and Regulatory) regarding an application to vary a premises licence made by Tingley Athletic FC Ltd, for Tingley Athletic FC Ltd, The Crescent, Casson Avenue, East Ardsley, Wakefield, WF3 2EG.

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory requested the consideration of Members for an application to vary a premises licence made by Tingley Athletic FC Ltd, for Tingley Athletic FC Ltd, The Crescent, Casson Avenue, East Ardsley, Wakefield, WF3 2EG.

In attendance for the meeting were:

• Chris Daly – Tingley Athletic FC, Applicant

The Legal Officer outlined the procedure for the meeting.

The Licensing Officer presented the application providing the following information:

• The hours for the sale of alcohol (for consumption both on and off the premises) on the current licence are Sat, Sun and Bank Holiday Mondays, 12:00 -20:00. The applicant has applied for the following: Mon-Fri, 17:00 - 22:00 and Sat & Sun 11:00 - 22:00.
• No representations had been received from the statuary consulted responsible authorities.
• 11 representations had been received from local residents, contained at Appendix E. The concerns largely focused on potential noise, nuisance, and disorder as well as speeding drivers.

The applicant presented their case to Members, which detailed the following:

• The club and sports facilities were noted as a valuable community resource, with the proposed increased hours for alcohol sale as a social element and fund raising for the club.
• The only incident of crimes was that of damage done by the public to the club and grounds, external to the operation of the club.
• A letter had been sent to local residents to inform them of the clubs’ intentions.
• The volunteers go through extensive training and are DBS checked to ensure the safeguarding of children.
• Concerns regarding speeding drivers should be raised with the police and not the licensing authority.
• There is no intention to run the premises as a pub or social club and the extended hours were not going to be applied to everyday activity. The ambition was to improve the atmosphere of the club and not to attract new customers; it is a junior football club at heart.
• Any profits will go back into the club for work such as grounds maintenance and all staff are employed on a voluntary basis.

Responding to questions from the Members, the Licensing Sub Committee were informed of the following:

• A consultation meeting had not been held with local residents as no replies had been received to information explaining the clubs’ intentions. However, a meeting had been held for the original licence and committee members of the club were of the view they were approachable to the community.
• In relation to the request for later hours for the sale of alcohol, Members noted that it was not proposed as being on a regular basis, as the club is volunteer led and the process would incur cost and time, impacting on functionality.
• Although parking provisions were noted as extensive, it can be difficult to manage due to idle parking on Casson Avenue. On busier days volunteers will be deployed to manage parking, with excess parking in a nearby doctors’ surgery and varied kick off times to control the flow of vehicles.
• There had been a historic objection to the club by some local residents since its fruition and it had been difficult to engage with all. Attempts to positively engage were noted as being; provision of a childminder service, food and drink vouchers at events and the facilities open for public use as they are council pitches.
• The sale of alcohol until 10pm had been proposed based on the consultation with club members who would be prepared to stay longer and increase funding for the club.
• Football matches were displayed on televisions in the clubhouse which was deemed hospitable and a community space during winter. Consumption of alcohol will take place in the clubhouse, and pitch-side during football matches.
• To manage litter and safety around the grounds, only cans and plastic glasses are on sale for external use. Litter was noted to be an occurrence regardless of alcohol sales and volunteers conducted litter picks and act upon reports of litter from the public.

RESOLVED – To grant the variation to the licence, as applied for.