Agenda and minutes

Reconvened meeting from 24 May 2023 following site visit by members and consideration of additional information provided. Please see agenda pack for 24 May 2023 for reports.

Cllr Michael Goodridge had been elected at the 24 May meeting as chair for the purpose of the hearing and therefore took the position for this hearing.

The Licensing panel convened in person on 6 June 2023 to determine an application for a new premises licence, the hearing having been adjourned in order that a site visit could take place and to allow consideration of a noise management plan by the parties which had been provided shortly before the original hearing date of 24 May 2023.

The licensing committee confirmed that a site visit had taken place on 1 June 2023 in order to view the particular areas highlighted on the application and to better appreciate the scale of the area.

The Licensing panel carefully considered all the relevant information including

·       Written and oral representations made by the parties

·       The licensing act 2003 and the steps appropriate to promote the licensing objectives

·       The guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 (the statutory guidance)

·       Waverley’s statement of licensing policy

·       The human right act 1998

The Committee took into consideration the committee report, and application form which sought to licence the premises for non-standard timings (to allow Sladesfest, an annual event) and the licensable activities applies for, namely live and recorded music and the sale of alcohol on the premises..

During the consultation process, 31 representations were received from interested persons which formed part of the committee report, and which were expanded upon during the course of the hearing. The representations received outlined issues of crime and disorder, public nuisance, issues with public safety and potential harm to children. There were various reference to 'glamping’ activities at the site and observations as a result of previous activity at the site which had been subject to a temporary event notice (TEN).

It was noted by the committee that there had been no representations made by any of the responsible authorities.

The sub-committee heard in person from Mr Francis Hutley and Mr Valentine Hutley, the applicants.

The representative of Hascombe Parish Council, Sarah Sullivan

The representative of Bramley Parish Council, Cllr Jane Austin

Mr Martin Dodd with particular focus within his comments in regard to potential nuisance (noise) issues

and those other objectors who attended the hearing and addressed the committee in person.

The panel noted that a number of the concerns raised were not relevant to the matters for determination, including those relating to planning aspects and complaints regarding non licensable activity (e.g. the glamping site/midnight steeplechase) and which fall outside the scope of the application/matters for the committee to determine.

It was also noted that no responsible authority had made representations and as such it was not appropriate to involve those separate parties to further comment on the application as objectors had invited the committee to adjourn to do so.

In summary the objections raised related to concerns about the likely number of attendees, noise / light nuisance, as well as access and transport links and the ability  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

To consider any legal advice relating to any applications in the agenda.

Legal advice was sought during the hearing and during deliberations before coming to a decision.