Agenda and minutes

          Resolved – That Councillor Mick Bray chair this meeting of the Licensing Panel.

(Councillor Bray took the Chair.)

The Panel considered (a) a report of the Council’s Licensing Officer setting out details of an application for a Premises Licence by Playfootball Limited, Upham Road, Swindon, (b) written representations from

(local residents) opposing the grant of a Premises Licence, (c) a slide presentation by the Council’s Licensing Manager showing pictures of the site and pedestrian access to the site, (d) oral submissions against the grant of a Licence by Councillors Steve Allsopp, Abdul Amin and Emma Bushell (Ward Councillors), (e) oral submissions against the grant of a licence received from Mr Adrian Crafer, Mr David Edwards and Mrs Susan York (Local Residents), (f) oral submissions received in support of the application from Mr Steve Bennett and Mr Mark Thompson (Playfootball Limited) (g) questions from Members to the applicants and answers received, and (h) the Council’s procedure for licensing hearings, the Secretary of State’s Guidance and the Council’s Licensing Policy.

The Council’s Licensing Manager introduced the report noting:

·       The application was for a new Premises Licence.

·       The options available to the Panel in determining the application.

·       That the application excluded regulated entertainment.

·       That objections to the grant of a licence had been received from six local residents based upon the Prevention of Public Nuisance, the Protection of Children from Harm and the Prevention of Crime and Disorder Licensing Objectives.

·       Conditions offered by the applicant and set out on pages 26 and 29 of the agenda papers.

·       A slide show clarifying the vehicle and pedestrian accesses to the site and proposed car parking area.

·       Revisions to the application arising from Planning and Highways input.

·       That the applicant was for on sales only.

The oral submissions in support of written submissions opposing the application can be broadly summarised as follows:

·       That the site is close to residential properties and little information has been provided as to how the applicant would minimise disruption to a settled community.

·       That the application should be seen in the context of it being situated within a school site.

·       That the Churchfields School catchment included a number of social priority areas and vulnerable families.

·       The high level of alcohol related problems involving young people within the Borough.

·       Advice of the Chief Medical Officer regarding the benefits of alcohol free childhoods.

·       That one of the lounge sponsors was Marathon Bet which was likely to advertise on site which might influence young people.

·       Discrepancies between the application for Planning Permission and that seeking a Premises Licence.

·        The removal from the plans of a cellar to lock alcohol away in when the bar was closed.

·       Control over the booking of pitches and participants onsite.

·       The extent that the playfootball plan relied upon receipts from bar sales.

·       The promotion of live television matches in attracting customers in an area that is not serviced by public houses.

·       The potential for away fans to use the facility when Swindon Town Football Club is playing homes matches.

·       The training of bar and door staff on their duties under the Licensing Act.

·       The training requirements needed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.