Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory, regarding an application for the grant of a premises licence made by The Caribbean Cricket Club, for The Caribbean Cricket Club, Scott Hall Road, Leeds, LS7 2HH.

The Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory submitted a report for Member’s consideration on an application for the grant of a premises licence, made byThe Caribbean Cricket Club, Scott Hall Road, Leeds LS7 2HH.

Attending the meeting were:

·  Reginald Hamilton – Secretary for the Caribbean Cricket Club

·  Arshad Mahmood – Member of the Caribbean Cricket Club

The Legal officer explained the procedure for the hearing.

The Licensing Officer presented the application informing the Members of the following points:

• The application had been made by the Caribbean Cricket Club, with the proposed designated premises supervisor (DPS) as Mr Larry Gumbs.
• The application proposed the sale by retail of alcohol for the hours Saturday 12:00 - 00:00 and Sunday to Friday 12:00 - 23:00, late night refreshment for the hours Saturday 23:00 - 00:00, the performance of recorded music for the hours Saturday 12:00 - 00:00 Sunday to Friday 12:00 - 23:00 and performance of live music and entertainment of a similar description for the hours 12:00 - 23:00 every day. Non-standard timings were the day before and after any official Bank Holiday with an extension of permitted hours until 2:00.
• Responsible authorities and Ward Members had been notified of the application.
• Following receipt of the application agreements had been reached between the applicant, Leeds City Council’s Environmental Protection Team (EPT) and West Yorkshire Police (WYP). Measures suggested by those authorities had been accepted by the applicant and, as a result, the representations had been withdrawn.
• Section M of the application form, at page 30 of the report, detailed proposed steps intended to promote the 4 licensing objectives.
• 9 representations had been received from a number of local residents on the grounds of crime & disorder and public nuisance, which remained a matter outstanding for the Licensing Sub Committee’s consideration.
• A copy of the licence details for the existing premises licence was available at Appendix A, a redacted version of the application at Appendix B, a map which identified the location of these premises at Appendix C, a copy of the representation and agreement by the EPT at Appendix D, a copy of the representation and agreement by WYP at Appendix E and redacted copies of the public representations at Appendix F.
• No other licensed premises were noted within the immediate locality of the premises.

The cricket club representatives provided the Sub-Committee with the following information:

• The cricket club had been established in 1948 and was one of the oldest West-Indian organisations in the country.
• An event had been planned to commemorate the Windrush Generation to take place before the end of 2023.
• The cricket club was self-funded, relying on membership fees, to pay for the £3500 annual lease fee to the Council and various running costs. The extended licensed hours applied for were to generate further funding to establish a juniors’ team, incurring various costs in aid of the welfare for young people.
• The most recent event at the premises was held on the 17^th of June 2022 which had received no formal complaints.
• Many of the objections, particularly objection 7 at page 61 of the report, listed historic events of 2019, however WYP had made no contact with the club regarding these complaints at this time.
• People had the right to submit objections but these should be given weight by the Committee based on their proportionality within the context that no events had been held recently and no issues were noted in principle that the cricket club were aware of.
• There was a designated person acting as security for events to resolve any issues and ensure people leave the club in a respectful manner and to manage traffic. Cricket club committee members also attended events to assist with resolving issues.
• The urination on fences, referenced in the public objections, were not within the immediate locality and doubt was cast that this issue stems from the club.
• To limit any noise complaints, work was ongoing to soundproof walls of the club, with no imminent events planned due to the building work to extend the clubhouse.
• The EPT objection had been withdrawn and the cricket club was prepared to adhere to the reasonable measures.
• Letters had been delivered to neighbours informing them of upcoming events and invites to evening tea and meals had been sent to engage with the local community.
• CCTV will also cover neighbouring properties to assist with their safety. The club had previously assisted WYP with CCTV facing Scotthall Road to address speeding car issues.
• The licence granted in 2021 had been used to hold events to raise funds for the construction of an extension to the clubhouse, further funding from the England and Wales Cricket Board had been secured for the extension.
• Temporary Event Notices (TENs) had previously been applied for to extend the licensed hours to hold events and no direct complaints had been received.
• Any complaints received by the club were kept on a register, taken seriously and measures were put in place to address them, when deemed reasonable.
• The majority of club members (estimated at 90%) abstained from the consumption alcohol.

Responding to questions from Members the sub-committee were informed of the following:

• It was confirmed that most of the anti-social behaviour noted at the club occurred out of normal opening hours; the club had been burnt down twice, broken into multiple times and WYP had assisted with an encampment of travellers. Although anti-social behaviour wasn’t constant, extended hours would allow more monitoring of the grounds and act as a deterrent.
• As some of the public objections noted events from a number of years ago, it was outlined that there had been no serious incidents since the secretary had been in post since 1987. The Covid-19 lockdown and club refurbishment were not perceived to have significantly contributed to the lack of any recent disturbance to local residents.
• The club representatives recognised the initial WYP and EPT objection and had worked with the responsible authorities to mitigate issues and adhere to the conditions; instructions from authorities will be followed.
• The loud events referenced in objections to be taking place on Sundays were unclear to the club representatives as no big events had taken place on a Sunday other than cup games which were noted to conclude by the late afternoon.
• The club had been run by various committees of volunteers and over recent years had strong policy commitments to adhere to appropriate licensing objectives.
• The nearest residential property was noted to be 40 metres from the clubhouse, across a large open field, the hours of the applied for license had been reduced to limit noise that had been referenced in EPTs initial objection and the proposed soundproofing met building regulations standards. Members suggested that 40 metres was not a huge distance for noise to be transmitted.
• The suggestions from Members, to engage with local residents regarding any planned events were taken into account and no events were proposed until the soundproofing and CCTV had been installed.
• There were no external sound systems used at the premises and the CCTV was to be panoramic, allowing a full view of the grounds.
• As the applied for licence would allow music until as late as 2am, it was noted that the volume level for any music after 11pm will be lowered. The late-night refreshments would be licensed until 2am, however with the licence to sell alcohol expiring earlier, it was outlined that there would likely be music and dancing with light, non-alcoholic refreshment on occasion past 11pm. Parties would occur to generate funding for the club.

In summing up The Caribbean Cricket Club representatives outlined the following:

• The club’s daily operations were not funded by external sources, and the applied for licence would enhance the clubs standing and allow further community engagement and the development of a junior team, a positive for young people in the area.
• The improvements to the club and extended hours would attract other cricket clubs from around the country to play friendly Sunday matches which would lead to increased spending in other businesses in the city, helping Leeds economically and culturally.
• Work with local schools to develop the junior team would be an asset for the community.
• An invitation to the event to celebrate the Windrush generation was extended to Sub-Committee Members.

RESOLVED – To grant the licence, as applied for, subject to the conditions agreed with the Responsible Authorities.