Agenda item

The report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory requests Members consideration on an application for the grant of a premises licence, made by Thorp Arch and Boston Spa Cricket Club, for Thorp Arch and Boston Spa Cricket Club, Cricket Ground, The Village, Thorp Arch, Wetherby, LS23 7AR.

The report of the Chief Officer (Elections and Regulatory) presented an application for the grant of a premises licence, made by Thorp Arch and Boston Spa Cricket Club, for Thorp Arch and Boston Spa Cricket Club, Cricket Ground, The Village, Thorp Arch, Wetherby, LS23 7AR.

Supplementary information was published on the Council’s website and distributed to Sub-Committee members before the meeting. The information related to withdrawal of representations from West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council’s Environmental Protection Team.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  Adam Gough, Thorp Arch and Boston Spa Cricket Club – Applicant

·  Councillor Alan Lamb – Objector

·  Councillor Norma Harrington – Objector

·  Andrew Jones – Supporter

·  K Walsh – Club Secretary

The Legal Adviser outlined the procedure for the hearing and the Licensing Officer presented the application.

The application has attracted representations from other persons and responsible authorities.

In summary the application is for sale by retail of alcohol every day 11:00 until 23:30 and performance of live and recorded music every day 11:00 until 23:00. The clubhouse will be used for all licensable activities. The yellow outfield area shown on the plan as per the submitted report will be used for no more than 5 events per year.

Representations have been received from West Yorkshire Police and the Environmental Protection Team in their capacity as responsible authorities. Supplementary information details agreements made between such responsible authorities and the applicant, and therefore both representations have been withdrawn.

The licensing authority is in receipt of twenty individual letters of objection, two letters from ward councillors and a letter from the parish council, all of which oppose to the application on all grounds of all licensing objectives. The licensing authority is also in receipt of twenty individual letters of support.

The applicant informed the Sub-Committee of the following:

·  The cricket club is a community led environment and has worked hard at being a good neighbour to residents.

·  West Yorkshire Police, LCCs Environmental Protection Team and the Fire Department have actively engaged throughout the process of the application and discussed issues and found resolutions to them.

·  Thorp Arch and Boston Spa (TABS) has been there for 150 years and over time has established 223 members as of 2024. There are women’s and children’s teams also. TABS is in the centre of the village and the grounds are accessed via a private gate, with a clubhouse facility.

·  TABS is on a 1 year rolling lease, and should the business fold, the playing fields will be returned to the owners and there is a possibility this may be developed into residential development.

·  The applicant lives in Boston Spa and has been the Chairman of the club since 2013. He rebuilt the club and has put on a variety of events. There have been substantial private donations to help re-build the club.

·  The same key challenges are faced every year in terms of financial stability and the applicant’s intention is to ensure the club is self-sustaining and remains a club for all genders, abilities, and backgrounds.

·  The maintenance of the ground is volunteer led and 3,000 hours of work are donated to the cricket club every year.

·  Cricket is considered a declining sport and 2 local clubs have recently folded in the last 2 years. There are fund raising challenges of £5,000-£10,000 every year.

·  The cost of running the club has increased significantly and there has been an introduction of a paid groundsman and professional coaches. The club has some of the best services in the area and is made affordable for all the community to partake.

·  The club has previously used Temporary Event Notices (TENs) to operate events that have successfully been held but this poses a risk to probability of the weather and attendance. Therefore, the applicant is seeking security of a premises licence to ensure operations can be run effectively. The club has never had issues with the local community when the TENs were being operated. The club will not be a loud music venue, and the club want to formalise what they are doing under the TENs. Spectators enjoy a drink during the game, and players a drink after the match. Between 9:30 and 10pm players and the club tend to go into the village for a drink after games. TENs have included live bands, children’s entertainment, and face painting typically fund-raising events.

·  The highest attendance for spectators on a Saturday is usually 20 people. The ground is only 2.2 acres, and the club is not a big club.

·  Glass is not allowed in the playing areas.

·  Parking will be kept to a minimum and the club will work with the local community. There are double yellow lines on pinch points and local schools. The local farmer has allowed the club to use a field for past events.

·  Complaints received regarding nudity came from a fundraising calendar event the club took part in to raise monies for local charities. This was done respectfully and with a professional photographer.

·  The applicant is proud of where the cricket club has got to and is working to ensure its sustainability for the future.

Councillor Lamb addressed the Sub-Committee as an objector to the application and provided the following comments:

·  The cricket club is a fantastic community asset.

·  Local ward councillors are here on behalf of representations received from the local community, and legitimate concerns need addressing in relation to the hours of alcohol sales.

·  The club have not had much engagement with the parish council or local community, and it is believed several concerns could have already been addressed.

·  Generally, it has already been confirmed that people tend to leave the club from 9:30-10:00pm, so it is considered fair that the hours are reduced.

·  Ward members do not have an issue with the premises applying for a licence, and do not want to see housing being developed on this site and wish for it to remain a cricket club.

·  It is considered that 10pm is a reasonable cut off point.

Councillor Harrington also added that she would like to see a compromise with the hours also.

Further to questions from Sub-Committee Members, the following information was confirmed:

·  The applicant confirmed that he would be happy for the hours to be reduced to 10pm. The applicant added that this sits well with the cricket club and the ambition is to leave by 10pm to support local clubs and vacate elsewhere.

·  The applicant also confirmed he would be happy for the hours of live music to also be decreased to 10pm.

A member commented on the positive impact the cricket club is having on young people and thanked the applicant for addressing her initial concerns.

At this point in the meeting, the Sub-Committee moved into private session.

RESOLVED – To grant the licence, subject to an amendment to the hours for sale by retail of alcohol and performance of live and recorded music Monday - Thursday 11:00 until 21:30 and Friday & Saturday 11:00 until 22:00.