BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL
LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON MONDAY 19 JANUARY 2009

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• 1 - Declaration of Interests
• 2 - Licensing Act 2003 - Hearing Report - Cornard United Football Club, Blackhouse Lane, Great Cornard

PRESENT:                           Mr B L Lazenby – Chairman

Also in attendance at the meeting to make representations were:- 

Mr L Carvell (Licensing Section) to present Paper H160
Mr M Watson (Natural and Built Environment Division)
Sergeant M Carney (Suffolk Constabulary)
WPC V Pearson (Suffolk Constabulary)
Mr C Symes          )  Applicant’s Representatives
Mr R Le Page       )
Mrs L Ford-Platt   )  (Objectors)
Mr T Platt             ) 

1          DECLARATION OF INTERESTS 

None declared.

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2          LICENSING ACT 2003 – HEARING REPORT – CORNARD UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB, BLACKHOUSE LANE, GREAT CORNARD

The Chairman of the Sub-Committee referred to the procedure to be followed at the Hearing, a copy of which had been circulated with the Agenda. 

The Head of Natural and Built Environment  submitted a report (Paper H160) requesting the Sub-Committee to determine an Application under the 2003 Licensing Act by Cornard United Football Club in respect of their club premises at Blackhouse Lane, Great Cornard. 

The Head of Natural and Built Environment also referred to letters of objection that had been received within the statutory timescale and had been circulated with the agenda or prior to the meeting.  He also referred to a Site Inspection that had been undertaken by the Sub-Committee Members on 16 January 2009. 

Members then questioned the Head of Natural and Built Environment. 

Mr M Watson presented his report which had been circulated as part of Appendix 3 to Paper H160.  

Members, the Applicant and the Objectors then questioned Mr Watson. 

Sergeant Carney (Suffolk Constabulary) presented his report (contained in Appendix 3 of Paper H160). 

Members, the Applicant and the Objector’s then questioned Sergeant Carney. 

Mrs Ford-Platt and Mr Platt (Objectors) presented their letter of objection contained in Appendix 3 to Paper H170.  With the agreement of all present an additional email dated 19 January from an objector, Mr Ping, was read out at the meeting. 

The Applicant made an opening address to the meeting in support of the application and with the agreement of all present circulated a written resume in support of the application.  Following the presentation, the Applicants were questioned by Members and the Objectors. 

All parties were then requested to provide closing comments to the meeting.  Following this all parties withdrew to enable the Committee to deliberate the Application. 

The relevant parties were then invited back into the meeting and the Council’s decision was notified. 

RESOLVED 

That in addition to the Mandatory Conditions and the Conditions consistent with the Operation Schedule (as amended) the following Conditions be attached to promote prevention of public nuisance to the Application under the 2003 Licensing Act in respect of the Cornard United Football Club, Blackhouse Lane, Great Cornard. 

(1)              From Operating Schedule (volunteered by Club): 

• The Club shall ensure that club members and guests are aware of all events and relevant rules for the use of the club facilities. This condition shall be satisfied through publication of this information in the Club’s weekly programme. 
• The Club Committee shall ensure that a member of the Club, or staff, is in attendance at all times whilst the clubhouse building is open and that the entrance is monitored by a Committee member (or other responsible individual nominated by the Club Committee for that purpose). 
• An adequate CCTV system shall be installed and maintained on the licensed premises.  
• Outdoor music events (whether live or recorded music or a combination of the two) shall be restricted to not more than two occasions per calendar year.

(2)       Agreed by applicant as volunteered condition during hearing: 

 (3)       Modified by Sub-Committee in determination: 

• The Club Committee shall maintain a legible written record of all hirings of the Club premises (whether it be members hirings or TENS hirings) and this shall be produced for inspection upon request of an authorised officer of the Local Authority or Police. 
• The Club Committee shall ensure that a legible written record is maintained stating the actual opening times and closing times of the premises, during all occasions that the club premises is being used for licensable activities, with such record to be signed off as a true and accurate record by the Secretary of the Club or another responsible individual nominated for that purpose by the Club Committee. 
• No alcohol shall be available for consumption off the licensed premises (including the sportsfield/practice pitch), and members and guests shall not be permitted to enter or leave the premises whilst carrying opened or sealed bottles or glasses (this condition is not applicable to deliveries of alcohol).  
• Where alcoholic drinks are provided in bottles or glasses they shall be promptly cleared away and retained on the premises.  
• The Club Committee shall ensure that the consumption of alcohol is not permitted in outdoor areas of the licensed Club premises, unless it is during the two authorised outdoor music events per annum. On such occasions the consumption of alcohol shall be restricted to the outdoor areas identified within the plan attached as Appendix 4 to the Licence. 
• During all hirings of the Club facilities where the function is extending beyond 23:00hrs and 50 or more persons are in attendance (including any staff, performers or Club members), the Club Committee shall nominate at least one responsible individual as a steward or supervisor - to be on duty immediately outside of the entrance to the clubhouse - to ensure that attendees are monitored and advised to enter and leave the premises in an orderly and considerate manner, in order to minimise any disturbance of local residents. 
• The use of floodlights to illuminate the access to the clubhouse from the car park during hirings or functions at the club premises shall be prohibited. All other lighting installed and used for illumination of the access route to the clubhouse shall be designed and operated so as to not cause loss of amenity or nuisance to neighbouring residential properties. 
• The Club Secretary, or another responsible individual nominated by the Club Committee, shall take all reasonable steps to liaise with the owners/trustees (and any other applicable authorities) in respect of the sportsfield and the pathway approach to the clubhouse in order to ensure that adequate external lighting is provided, in accordance with condition above, to the access pathway from the carpark to the club premises during the hours of darkness and whilst the premises is being used for licensable activities. 
• The Club Committee shall operate a ‘Challenge 21’ proof of age scheme at the Club premises, to require individuals selling or supplying alcohol to request photographic identity proof of age where the individual appears to be under 21 years of age.
• The volume control of recorded music or any amplification equipment shall be under the direct control of the Club Secretary, or another responsible individual nominated by the Club Committee for that purpose, with provision made for the sound to be turned down upon the request of an authorised officer of the Local Authority or Police. 
• All windows and doors on the North East and South West facing elevations of the club house shall be kept closed during any potentially noisy licensable activities, with an appropriate air conditioning system installed should the Club Committee consider it necessary. 
• Access to the clubhouse whilst any noisy licensable activities are taking place shall be through the access door in the centre of the South West elevation overlooking the main pitch. 
• Notices shall be prominently displayed and maintained on the licensed club premises advising patrons to leave the area quietly and with consideration to the rights of local residents, and also advising any relevant prevention of crime and disorder information that may be required by the Local Authority or Police. 
• In order to promote the licensing objectives, the hours proposed by the variation (BDC ref: LA03/BCP0036/003916) application shall be reduced to those as shown in the Club Premises Certificate and summary of it. 
  
  

The business of the meeting was concluded at 12.35 p.m.

Chairman