Agenda item

The Sub-Committee is asked to determine whether to grant the application for a premises licence at Addington Park, Croydon, CR0 5AR.

The Chair outlined the procedures for the Licensing Hearing in line with the Licensing Act 2003 and introduced the applicant, the applicant’s agent and the objectors. The Head of Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Licensing explained the time limited nature of the licensing application from In the Park Events Ltd for Addington Park for Saturday 16 August 1.00pm to 9.30pm, for the provision of regulated entertainment and the sale and consumption of alcohol on the premises. The applicant had accepted the police conditions and the terminal hour had been reduced by 30 minutes since the initial application. Representations had been received and three of the objectors were present at the hearing. The applicant had submitted additional information regarding the traffic management plan and a more detailed communications plan.

Cllr Ward, Councillor for Addington Park advised he was supportive of well managed events taking place in the park and noted the lessons learned from previous events particularly regarding parking. They advised many of the issues had been addressed in the agreed police conditions and queried the applicant’s plans to engage with residents. It was noted that the event planned to use a different orientation and members of the public should still be able to use the park. There had previously been issues of people loitering and a dispersal policy would need to be in place to avoid this. Cllr Ward expressed that his main concern was the execution and effective management of the event.

Charles Marriott, Addington Village Residents’ Association had similar concerns and cited the better liaison with residents by previous event organisers. In the Park Events had mistakenly contacted the wrong residents’ association meaning communication had been delayed. Police presence at the event would be critical and concerns were raised about the site plans, noting the drawings depicted the perimeter breaching the pathway. Management of entry and exit points was key, including ensuring there were toilets available at exits.

Rosalind Halifax, Addington Palace explained the palace’s position next door to the park and advised they had not been notified of the event. They raised concerns about the orientation of the stage and the impact that resulting noise levels could have on the palace. They explained the impact previous events held in the park had had on the business, its reputation and its clients. They were advised by the Chair they could not submit video recording as additional information during the hearing.

Darryl Crossman, the applicant’s agent, summarised the nature of the event and addressed the issues raised by the objecting parties. The security plans included the presence of 58 SIA officers, some of whom would be plain-clothed, and a minimum of 60 support stewards. The traffic management plan had been developed by a previous event organiser and advertising would advise no parking was available. Residents would be contacted two weeks prior to event to advise of the traffic management arrangements. The noise level was being restricted to 65 decibels following consultation with the Council’s noise team, the police and the police events team. The applicant did not wish to impact Addington Palace and the sound disturbance was expected to be minimal. Toilets would be positioned in queuing areas and immediately before the entrance and exit. The terminal hour would be 9.30pm with the event cleared by 10.30pm, allowing for staggered and marshalled exiting. The organisers had been in contact with PC Angel from the police events team and the safer neighbourhood teams.

In response to questions the applicant’s agent advised that:

·       Communication with residents would primarily regard parking and property access, and would include the provision of contact details and provide reassurance of the arrangements. All resident engagement so far been via Addington Village Residents’ Association;

·       The event was aimed at 24 - 25 year olds and older and would be playing soulful chilled-house and garage music;

·       All advertising would state no parking would be available on site, with vehicle removal in place and attendees would be encouraged to use the trams to travel to the event. Stewards would be positioned along the walking route;

·       The number of toilets planned had increased to 40, with 25 static and additional urinals. There would be a minimum of 60 SIA stewards which could be increased to 70 or 80. There would be 50 support stewards and event organisers were looking to increase this but noted their focus was on the quality of stewards rather than quantity. The applicant was using a security company which had successfully supported their other events;

·       There would be a traffic management order in place through the Council and In the Park Events had privately contracted vehicle relocation with no payment for release should there be any contraventions. Any Council-ticketed cars would remain in situ. The applicant and licensing team agreed to liaise with the Council’s traffic team regarding the legality of private vehicle removal;

·       Stewards using a password system would ensure parking access for residents.

In response to questions from the Committee the Licensing Officer confirmed it was the applicant’s responsibility to display the site notices for events; not the Local Authority’s.

In response to questions the applicant’s agent advised;

·       There would be ongoing communication with Addington Palace and the Residents’ association including during the site walk, build and derig. The applicant’s 20 years’ experience of sound management was noted;  

·       Plain-clothed stewards would be covert and would not engage with the public;

·       Engagement would be via letter/leaflet drop and would take place a minimum of 2 weeks before. Residents would be provided with a password and supported by stewards to access their properties on the day. 

The Licensing officer advised that the Council’s pollution team was the responsible authority for sound levels, part of the safety advisory group process and had not made representations on the application. Officers would generally liaise with the applicant, attend the sound check and return to make measurements during the day.Due to the time limited nature of the application, action for any sound breach would be taken on the day. It was noted any breach of a licence could result in prosecution depending on the seriousness.

In response to questions the applicant’s agent advised that:

·       The traffic management order included access to the Harvester restaurant and that they would liaise with Police to ensure police station parking was authorised;

·       Contact would be made with Addington Palace;

·       The 65-decibel limit had been agreed with the Council pollution team which would be attending to perform sound checks.

The applicant’s agent offered an additional condition that should the sound exceed that limit the event would be terminated. The Licensing Officer agreed to discuss the noise level with Council pollution team and advised stopping an event with 2000 people would cause other issues. The applicant explained the positioning of the speakers would minimise sound and that speaker limiters meant the set sound level would not be breached.

Mr Marriot raised concerns about any parking being allowed outside the police station and the police presence anticipated on the day. The applicant’s agent confirmed they would be in contact with Addington Palace regarding the traffic management plan and to provide contact details for use on the day.

The Chair advised the outcome of the hearing would be communicated within the statutory time period and thanked the participants for their attendance.

LONDON BOROUGH OF CROYDON

STATEMENT OF LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE DECISION

LICENSING ACT 2003 – APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE AT ADDINGTON PARK, CROYDON, CR0 5AR

The Licensing Sub-Committee at the hearing held on Wednesday, 12^th July 2023, considered the Application for a time limited Premises Licence at Addington Park Croydon CRO 5AR and the representations received as contained in the report of the Corporate Director, Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery.

The Sub-Committee also considered the representations made on behalf of the Applicant, and objectors during the hearing. The Sub-Committee noted that although some of the objectors were not present at the hearing, they had the benefit of their written representations as part of the report and had regard to them in their decision making.

The Sub-Committee, having reference to the licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003 (“the Act”), the Statutory Guidance (Revised Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 (December 2022)) and the Council Statement of Licensing Policy 2023-2028, RESOLVED to GRANT the application on the basis that the Sub-Committee were satisfied that it would be appropriate to promote the licensing objectives to do so, in particular, towards the promotion of the licensing objectives of prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and the prevention of public nuisance. The application as granted is subject to the conditions offered by the applicant in their operating schedule and amended application (including the condition that if during the event, the noise levels from the event exceeds 65 decibels as agreed between the applicant,  Police, and the Council’s noise nuisance team, steps will be taken by the Council’s noise nuisance team to ensure the applicant including any of their agents reduce the excess noise levels to the agreed levels), and to the mandatory conditions which are imposed under the Licensing Act 2003.

The reasons of the Sub-Committee were as follows:

1.    The Sub-Committee noted that the Applicant had sought to engage with and address concerns which had been raised by residents, well in advance of the proposed events. It was noted that during the hearing, the Applicant addressed the issues which were raised by those making representations and addressed the questions of the sub-committee members; it is further noted that the applicant agreed to take further steps to engage more with the objectors before the date of the event.

2.    The Sub-Committee noted there was no objection from the Police albeit the Police had agreed some conditions with the applicant, therefore it was reasonable to conclude the Police were satisfied with the application from a crime and disorder and public safety perspective.

3.    There were no representations before the Sub-Committee from the Noise nuisance team objecting to the proposals. 

4.    The Sub-Committee were clear that there were a number of matters in respect of which issues had been raised but which were not within the authority of the Sub-Committee under the Licensing Act 2003 but were instead governed by other regimes – this included in relation to traffic management and parking in neighbouring streets and littering and anti-social behaviour in the local area. Despite this, the Sub-Committee noted that the applicant was making careful plans about how to prevent/deal with illegal parking, the applicant had informed the Sub-Committee they plan to obtain a Traffic Management Order to support their Traffic Management Plan which was submitted with their application and that residents would be notified about parking restrictions and would be provided with access information such as individual security codes/passwords, and that attendees would be informed on the booking websites that there are no parking available in the area  and also warned about the consequences of illegal parking.

5.    In respect of prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and public nuisance objective, the Sub-Committee were reassured as regards the increase in number of Security Industry Authority (SIA) personnel in attendances and the increase in the number of support stewards in attendance; the authority also notes the changes to the style of fencing used and proposed position of the stage and equipment to mitigate noise pollution and also note the agreement by the applicant to provide more toilets including at exit points of the events space.

6.    The Sub-Committee had regard to the Statement of Licensing Policy which provides that “Croydon has a diverse residential community and needs to be able to offer that community venues that meet its needs, offering as wide a range of entertainment, food and leisure as is possible. This includes pubs, clubs, restaurants and entertainment venues of varying types, which would include the use of open spaces…..However, encouraging and permitting licensable activities needs to be balanced against the needs and rights of residents and other businesses…Licensing is a balance and requires consideration of all these various needs”.  In addition, these provisions mirror similar provisions in the Statutory Guidance which provides that “Licensing authorities should avoid inappropriate or disproportionate measures that could deter events that are valuable to the community, such as live music”.

7.    The Sub-Committee were aware of and had reference to the Statutory Guidance which provides that, “beyond the immediate area surrounding the premises, these are matters for the personal responsibility of individuals under the law. An individual who engages in anti-social behaviour is accountable in their own right”. However, despite this the Sub-Committee noted the arrangements which the applicant proposed to address concerns which had been raised by residents around anti-social behaviour on site and in the surrounding area, including appropriate numbers of SIA trained security staff.

8.    The Sub-Committee wished to thank all participants for the manner in which they engaged with and supported the hearing in providing information to allow the Sub-Committee’s consideration.