Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that Councillor R. J. Deeming be appointed Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the meeting.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor P. M. McDonald, therefore, Councillor M. Thompson, Reserve Member, sat as a Member of the Sub-Committee.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked all parties present to provide a brief introduction.

The Chairman asked the applicant if he was aware that he could have had legal representation. The applicant confirmed that he had been made aware and was happy for the Hearing to continue.

The Sub-Committee then considered an application for the grant of a Premises Licence, in respect of Switch Music Group Limited, Bibbey’s Farm, Bromsgrove Road, Romsley, Worcestershire, B62 0JN.

The application was subject to a Hearing in light of one representation received from members of the public. The basis of their representation was on the grounds of Crime and Disorder and Public Nuisance; due to the issues experienced during a similar event in 2020. Namely, people arriving in cars outside their house, dropping and collecting people attending this event, who appeared to be intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, urinating outside their house, this was happening whilst waiting for taxis. Littering with discarded fast food wrappings and broken bottles.

The address of the application was queried by those who had submitted a representation, which was noted. For clarification, the application site lay within the Belbroughton and Romsley ward area and Hunnington Parish Council.

The Technical Officer (Licensing) Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS), introduced the report and in doing so informed the Sub-Committee that the applicant was applying for a ‘time limited’ premises licence; and that he had received an email, dated 4^th April 2022, from the applicant notifying WRS of an amendment to the opening hours, as follows: -

Sale of Alcohol

Friday 12^th August 2022                14:00 hours to 22:40 hours

Saturday 13^th August 2022            12:00 hours to 22:40 hours

Live Music

Friday 12^th August 2022                  14:00 hours to 23:00 hours

Saturday 13^th August 2022            12:00 hours to 23:00 hours

The Technical Officer further informed Members that during the consultation period it was discovered that the applicant had not advertised the application in accordance with the required regulations. Therefore, the statutory consultation period was re-started on 14^th February 2022. Members were reassured that the application was advertised in accordance with the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003 and associated regulations.

The applicant had started on the application form that the event would involve professional electronic dance music DJ’s mixing in their own sets throughout the two day event.

The Designated Premises Supervisor was identified on the application form as Mr. Richard Ellis Ford.

Members’ attention was drawn to page 7 of the main agenda report, which detailed that West Mercia Police and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, had not objected to the application, but had during the consultation period agreed additional conditions with the applicant, as detailed at Appendices 3 and 4 to the report.

In response to those who had made representation, the Technical Officer, confirmed that West Mercia Police were consulted with and did have sufficient time to respond to the consultation and that as detailed in the preamble above; West Mercia Police had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16/21