Agenda item

To consider a full variation to a premises licence for Chatham Town Football Club, Maidstone Road Sports Ground, Maidstone Road, Chatham ME4 6LRfollowing the submission of representations, received during the consultation period.  

Discussion:

The Chairperson explained the process that the hearing would follow.

The Senior Licensing Officer informed the Panel that the applicants had applied for a Full Variation at Chatham Town Football Club, Maidstone Road Sports Club, Maidstone Road, Chatham ME4 6LR.  All responsible authorities had been consulted in line with the Licensing Act 2003 and representations had been received from Kent Police and members of the public however Kent Police have since agreed conditions with the applicant as set out in appendix E to the report.

The Panel were informed that the applicants would like to seek authorisation for the sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises within designated and controlled areas around the stadium. In particular, the application was to amend current hours for on sales in the clubhouse from:

10:00 to 23:00 from Sunday to Wednesday and

10:00 to 24:00 from Thursday to Saturday

to:

On and off sales in the clubhouse and 2 pop up bars in the pitch area to

10:00 to 23:00 from Sunday to Thursday and

10:00 to 24:00 Friday to Saturday

And

Late night refreshment on a Thursday to cease.

The Panel were informed that the applicants would also like to remove the following embedded condition from the premises licence:

The rules of the club concerning admission of new members and the sale of intoxicating liquor shall not be altered without the consent of the Licensing Authority.

The Chairperson invited the applicants to speak in support of their application and the applicants explained they were applying for the sale and consumption of alcohol using 2 pop up bars and no alcohol was to leave the stadium at any time. The Panel were informed that this would be monitored by SIA security staff on entry and exit points and was to enhance the supported experience so that they did not have to queue for so long in the clubhouse. The use of the pop up bars would primarily be on match days on a Saturday from 14:00 to 17:00.

The Chairperson asked the objector if they had any questions for the applicants and Lizzie Convey queried what would happen during the World Cup and how the applicants would ensure that existing problems were not added to. Issues with people consuming alcohol outside the premises, urination, litter and noise nuisance were mentioned.

Gary Hake explained that the pop up bars would not increase the crowds and alcohol would not be able to be taken off the premises. There would be an enhanced level of SIA security staff on the gates and in the car park to stop people leaving with alcohol along with additional signage and tannoy announcements reminding people to leave respectfully. During World Cup events the national guidance would be adhered to regarding extended hours.

The Panel clarified the ratio of stewards and security staff on match days as well as average match day attendance and maximum capacity.

Following a question from the Panel regarding the pop up bars, the applicants explained that one would be in the club shop and the other would be in the open stands and they would be used at other events depending on demand.

The objector was then given the opportunity to express their concerns and explained they were concerned that the addition of 2 more pop up bars would increase the consumption of alcohol and people taking it out of the stadium as well as increasing noise levels as these issues already occurred on match days.

The applicants and Panel were given the opportunity to ask the objector questions; however, they had none.

The applicants offered to hold regular meetings with local residents to discuss any issues which were welcomed.

With the exception of the Legal Representative and the Democratic Services Officer, all present, left the room during the Panel’s deliberations, returning to hear the Panel’s decision.

Decision:

Having considered the report, the application, the written and oral representations, the Licensing Act 2003, the section 182 Guidance, the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, and all matters before it, the Panel decided to grant the application for a full variation of the premises licence for Chatham Town Football Club.

In reaching that decision, the Panel accepted that the objectors raised genuine concerns relevant to the licensing objectives, in particular the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance. The Panel found, however, that the principal issue arising on the evidence was the risk of alcohol being taken beyond the properly controlled stadium area and the associated issues, rather than the operation of additional sales points within the stadium itself.

The Panel was satisfied that this risk can be appropriately and proportionately addressed by the conditions agreed with Kent Police at Appendix E, subject to a minor amendment to the off-sales condition, together with one further condition requiring regular community engagement. The Panel therefore considered that, with those conditions in place, the variation is appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives.

Accordingly, the Panel grants the application subject to the conditions agreed at Appendix E, including the removal of the embedded condition and late-night refreshment on Thursdays, save that the relevant off-sales condition shall read:

‘The sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises shall be limited to within the designated stadium footprint only and shall not be permitted to be taken beyond the external perimeter of the stadium grounds, including any car park area or tennis courts. All off sales must be consumed within the stadium stands and associated spectator areas.’

Further to the applicant’s proposal, the Panel also imposes the following additional condition:

‘Community engagement meetings to be advertised locally and to take place at least quarterly per annum and minutes from such meetings must be forwarded to the licensing authority within two weeks of the community engagement meeting taking place.’