Agenda item

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director, Neighbourhood Services which gave details of an application for the grant of a premises licence in respect of Biddick Hall, Lambton Park, Chester-le-Street (for copy see file of minutes).

Plans showing the location and the layout of the premises and a copy of the application had been circulated to Members together with copies of representations which had been received from Interested Parties.

The Senior Licensing Officer presented the report and advised the Sub-Committee that the Licensing authority were satisfied that the consultation was carried out correctly and that the application had been advertised in the Northern Echo and 32 notices were found to be displayed.

She also advised the Sub-Committee that a mediation meeting had taken place on 4 February 2012 which was held on the Lambton Estate. Following this meeting Interested Parties had been contacted giving them the following 3 options:-

1)     Your objections/representations on (one, two, etc or all five applications) remain valid and if you wish to proceed to hearing on 16 February 2012;

2)     Your concerns/issues raised on the applications have been addressed by the applicant’s agents and you have negotiated additional conditions and withdrawn your objections/representations; or

3)     Your objections/representations on (one, two, etc or all five applications) have been withdrawn.

A copy of the responses from Interested Parties was circulated to everyone present and time was given for this document to be read.

She also advised the Sub-Committee that Durham Constabulary had negotiated with the Applicant’s agent an additional condition to be attached to the operating schedule, details of which had been circulated.

Judith Tagg had indicated that she was unable to attend the meeting but asked that the Senior Licensing Officer verbally advise the Sub-Committee on her behalf that she felt that the ingress and egress should not be from Bonemill Lane.

Mr McManus an Interested Party advised the Sub-Committee that if the applicant did not deviate from what was said at the Mediation meeting then he would have no objections and that his main concerns were access and noise.

Mr McCallum an Interested Party advised the Sub-Committee that his concerns were widespread due to the volume of people attending the events but since the mediation meeting some of these concerns had been explained and on the whole he would have no objections if the access was limited to a number of events and the sale of alcohol was controlled properly.

Mr Trewartha showed a large scale plan which was similar to the plan shown on Page 60 of the report to the Sub-Committee. He indicated which areas were of concern and that the Lambton Estate was also within the area of Sunderland City Council. He advised the Sub-Committee that the access at Bonemill Lane would only be used as an entrance for Lambton Castle and that a one way system would be put in place.

Mr Wilson the Agent acting on behalf of the applicant advised the Sub-Committee that there were residential properties on the estate and two way traffic would not work on the estate. He went on to say that the rooms were not large and the licence was required for weddings or events of a similar nature and that they were waiting for a licence for civil ceremonies. The venue could never be used as a nightclub and that the Earl of Durham still used the property.  He indicated that the objections were in relation to noise and traffic at the Bonemill Lane entrance which was 2 miles away from the premises so noise would not be an issue.

Mr McManus indicated that they could hear shooting and Mr McCallum indicated that as the venue would not be large numbers he did not expect a large volume of noise so would raise no objections.

The Chairman asked for clarification on P.35 of the report in relation to the sale of alcohol. Mr Wilson advised the Sub-Committee that the sale of alcohol would be a pre sale made remotely which may be paid for at the estate office but in reality the sale of alcohol would be a paid bar for guests attending the event.

At 11.00 am the Sub-Committee left to deliberate the application in private. After reconvening at 11.10 am the Chair delivered the Sub-Committee’s decision.

In determining the application, Members had considered the report of the Licensing Officer, Section 182 Guidance and the Council’s Licensing Policy, together with the verbal representations of the Applicant. They also took into account the verbal and written representations of Interested Parties.

RESOLVED

That the application for a premises licence be granted as follows subject to the following conditions:-

i)          If Licensable activities are to be provided outdoors for an event which more than 500 people shall be present at any one time, the Safety Advisory Group at Durham County Council shall be informed of the event prior to the event taking place.