The Corporate and Community Services Officer requested nominations for Chair.

RESOLVED that Councillor York be appointed Chair.

There were no apologies for absence.

(Please complete the form provided at the meeting or telephone Corporate and Community Services to prepare a form for your signature before the meeting.  Interests must be re-declared when the item is called, and Councillors must leave the room if necessary).

There were no declarations of interest announced.

RECOMMENDED:

(a)  That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended from time to time), namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

(b)  That all documents and reports relating to the item be confirmed as 2 “Not for Publication”.

Report by the Licensing Officer (attached).

The applicant confirmed that he is happy the person making representations today, Mrs. Black, to remain in attendance whilst the ‘Part B’ business of the hearing is conducted.

The Chair introduced the Committee Members and those present.

Mr Mulchrone, the representative of the applicant, Mr Liney Lewis, was accompanied by Mr Hayler (a business associate of Mr Linley Lewis).

The Solicitor summarised the process to those present.

The Licensing Officer addressed the Committee and advised of the following:

·       The application was being considered under ‘Part B’ as the document provided held commercially sensitive information.

·       The applicant’s held a license to carry out the event. Which was for Friday to Sunday, for one event per year.  This was a new application to hold the event from Thursday to Sunday. Therefore to increase the duration by one day.

·       It was not an amendment to an existing licence, but for a new licence. 

·       The event could still be held, even if this new application was not granted, although it would be for Friday to Sunday.

·       A summary sheet of the proposed licence had been included. This clearly showed the operation times for each element of the licence, for each day, alongside the timings on the existing licence, against the proposed changes.  This covered the changes proposed within the application on appendix b.

·       Appendix a was the application for the licence previously awarded

·       Appendix b was the application for the new licence.

·       Since publication of the agenda, the Licensing Officer had been advised that the National Trust had opened a new car park on the site which would alleviate any parking issues.

Mr William Hayler addressed the Committee and advised of the following:

·       The background of the origins of the festival, and their company. He confirmed that it had been ‘born’ out of Wavelength, a surfing magazine.

·       The National Trust gave permission for them to use the site. This permission had been granted again for this year.  The land had been well looked-after last year and the location was returned to the condition it had been prior to the festival.

·       Their ethos was to be sensitive to the local environment and be of benefit to the town.

·       The majority of attendees were local residents.

·       Feedback from attendees had been that the festival had been a huge success.

Mr Laurence Mulchrone addressed the Committee and advised of the following:

·       He was an experienced production manager / contractor and had worked on many events across the country.

·       A licence was already in place to allow the applicant to hold one event per year.

·       Maximum occupancy of the site was 4999. In 2022 the event saw 2500 campers, 1000 day tickets were sold for Saturday and 500 on Sunday.

·       If the new licence was granted, with the addition of Thursday to the event, this would be open to camping ticket holders only. Also, only the smaller stages would be in use, with a less substantial sound system.

·       They had been unable to remediate concerns received from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.