Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the meeting and the Chairman to present and explain the procedure for the meeting.

Resolved

That Councillor Brain Heatley be elected as Chairman for the meeting.

Councillor Heatley familiarised the participants with the procedures for the meeting and what the proceedings would entail. This was understood by all.

To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were received at the meeting.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items to be considered.

An application has been made to vary the premises licence for the Jurassic Fields annual festival in Bridport. The application has been out to public consultation and has attracted a relevant representation. A Licensing Sub-Committee must consider the application and representations at a public hearing. 

The Sub-Committee were informed that an application had been made to vary the premises licence for the Jurassic Fields annual festival in Bridport. The festival was designed primarily to give local up and coming artists the opportunity to showcase their acts and to raise their profile.

The application had been out to public consultation and had attracted a relevant representation. On that basis, the Licensing Sub-Committee had to consider the application and representations at this public hearing. The criteria and grounds on which any decision could be made in taking such steps as the Sub-Committee considered appropriate and proportionate for the promotion of the licensing objectives were:-

·        The prevention of crime and disorder

·        The prevention of public nuisance

·        Public safety

·        The protection of children from harm

The Licencing Officer set out the details of the application and what it entailed – in that Jurassic Field Productions Ltd had applied to vary the premises licence - WDPL0658 - for Askers Meadows, Sea Road South, Bridport. The current premises licence was attached at Appendix 1 and what it currently provided for – in terms of alcohol to be supplied on the premises and Regulated Entertainment, Live and Recorded Music and dance – was set out.

The application was for the inclusion of a third day every year, being the second Sunday in July, from 11:00 to 22:00. The application was included in full at Appendix 2 to the report.

One representation had been received from a nearby resident objecting to the application on the basis of excessive noise and disturbance on the Asker's Meadow nature reserve.

The Sub-Committee were informed that no complaints had been received – particularly from any representative councils – with Bridport Town Council supporting the application.

The Sub-Committee understood that the provision of an extra day – one day a year - would provide the necessary means by which the festival could remain viable and an attractive proposition - with a view to it locating to another, more suitable and accessible site in the future. The additional day would bring in additional income to enable the applicants to have the necessary capital to be able to move sites. Any future move would be the subject of a separate application and could not be considered as part of this.

The configuration of the site and what it entailed was explained, together with the distances between the festival site and the nearest local residential properties were provided and how the sound equipment would be orientated on site – i.e. so that it  was away from the residential areas and pinpointed towards the centre of the site – was explained and understood. Noise measurement monitoring had not previously given any rise for concern and had been within the thresholds allowable. There was no reason that there would be any difference on the Sunday.

The event had been seen to be a success locally – and further wide – in terms of the social and economic benefits it generated. It was proposed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph x of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

There were no items under Exempt Business.