Agenda and minutes

As all members of the Sub-Committee were present, there were no apologies for absence to report.

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There were no declarations of interest made, within the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Members.

The Chairman of the meeting – Councillor Heasman – began by explaining the procedure which would be followed in the determination of an application for a premises licence for Colebrook Park in Tunbridge Wells.

It was noted that the application had been made by Mr Iain Love, who was represented at the hearing by his solicitor, Mr Stephen Thomas. A list of suggested conditions had been submitted by the applicant, which had been circulated as part of the agenda at Appendix B.

Members were advised that there was already a current premises licence in place for this venue, such licence being held by Sound and Light Event Management Ltd, with the current ‘designated premises supervisor’ – Mr Tranter – being present and registered as an objector to the current application.

It was noted that there had been a number of other representations made during the formal consultation stage, namely from the Borough Council’s Environmental Protection Manager, from his equivalent at Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, from Kent Police and from two private residents.

Sharon Degiorgio, the Borough Council’s Senior Licensing Officer, outlined the key aspects of the licence application, which was for a mix of events at the site. She summarised the representations made during the formal consultation period, which had focused on the issues of: (a) the need for a robust noise management plan; (b) concerns over having two premises licences for the same site and how these might be harmonised; (c) previous ‘noise pollution’ arising from earlier events held at this venue, leading to allegations of public nuisance.

Mr Thomas, on behalf of the applicant, said that, in view of the concerns raised, there had been an effort made to attach the same conditions to this licence as existed with the current one, but with some variations. Importantly, Mr Thomas said that, to allay fears over the number of ‘category 1’ and ‘category 2’ events held at the venue, the total number for the site as a whole would be no greater than that set out in the existing premises licence. He stressed that there would be no ‘doubling-up’ of the category 1 and category 2 events on the site, across any 12 month period. Mr Thomas added that this would be controlled by a booking system maintained by the owner of the premises – Mr Bowie.

In response to the complaints regarding excessive noise from earlier events held at the premises, Mr Thomas advised that the current applicant, Mr Love, had been the production manager, not the operator. He added that the complaints had come as a surprise, as the monitors employed at that stage had been satisfied with the sound levels generated by the event. Mr Thomas acknowledged the importance of having a robust noise management plan in place, adding that he would ensure that Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council would be fully consulted, as well as Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

In accordance with the procedural rules for licensing hearings, the applicant next answered questions from ‘responsible  ...  view the full minutes text for item LSC6/15