Agenda item

The report of the Chief Officer presents an application for the grant of a premises licence made by Board of Trustees of The Armouries, for Royal Armouries Museum, Armouries Drive, Hunslet, Leeds, LS10 1LT.

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory requested Member’s consideration on an application for the grant of a premises licence for Royal Armouries Museum, Armouries Drive, Hunslet, Leeds, LS10 1LT.

In attendance for the hearing were:

·  Mr Ben Williams of Kings Chambers – Representing the applicant

·  Mr Ben Campbell – Venue Director – Royal Armouries

·  Mr James Parker – DLA Piper

The Licensing Officer presented the application providing the following information:

·  The application was made to replace a lapsed premises licence. The premises had held a premises licence since November 2005 until the licence holder Royal Armouries (International) Plc., had been dissolved on 20^th September 2022. With no application to transfer the licence within the statutory 28 day period, the licence ceased to have effect with no option for it to be reinstated.

·  The application was for:

o  Sale of Alcohol every day 09:00-01:00

o  Plays, films, indoor sporting events, boxing and wrestling, live music, recorded music, performance of dance and anything of a similar description every day 09:00-01:00

o  Late night refreshment every day 23:00 01:00

o  Non-standard timings on New Year’s Eve from 09:00 to the end of hours on New Year’s Day.

·  A redacted copy of the application was appended to the submitted report at Appendix A. The applicant proposed to promote the licensing objectives by taking steps identified in Section M of the application. It was noted that the hours for activity differed from those in the application, as the applicant had amended the operating schedule following submission of the application by email which was attached to the report at Appendix B.

·  A map identifying the location of the premises was attached at Appendix C.

·  Representations had been received from Environmental Protection Team and West Yorkshire Police. However, negotiations had taken place with both responsible authorities and the operating schedule had been amended to include the measures agreed with both Environmental Protection Team and West Yorkshire Police. Copies of the agreements were appended to the report at Appendices D and E.

·  The application had attracted representations from members of the public opposed to the application on the grounds of public nuisance. Concerns had been expressed that they may be at risk of retribution should their details be made public. Therefore, personal details had been redacted and they were to remain anonymous. For this reason, they did not attend the hearing and requested that their representations be considered fully in their absence. Redacted copies of the representations were attached to the submitted report at Appendix F.

Mr Williams advised the Sub Committee that his submission was the same as for the previous application referred to in Minute 6 – Application for the grant of a premises licence for the New Dock Hall- Royal Armouries, Armouries Drive, Hunslet, Leeds, LS10 1LT.

Responding to a further question from the Members, Mr Campbell said the number of events up to the pandemic were between 395 and 420. It was his ambition to increase the number of events at the Royal Armouries up to 500. He said that his aim was to change the outlook and demographics for the events from local events to more national events.

In summing up Mr Williams requested that the application be granted as applied for. He said that concessions had been offered, however, there had been no communication from the residents to their proposals and suggested that terms proposed at the outset for the application be considered.

Members considered all the information presented to them at the hearing and within the agenda pack.

RESOLVED – To grant the application for a premises licence as applied for, as revised by the Applicant prior to the hearing, and subject to the conditions agreed with the responsible authorities, also in advance of the hearing.