Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and order that the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2021 be signed.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 29 September 2021 were approved as correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers are invited to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair and members of the Sub-Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Sub-Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice. (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting on the cards provided.  These are available at the meeting).

No public questions were submitted.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during consideration of agenda item 5 (Licenisng Act 2003: Application to vary the premises licence at Stockport County AFC, Hardcastle Road, Edgeley) as appendices to the report contain information ‘not for publication’ in accordance with Section 14(2) of The Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005 and where the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED - That notwithstanding the submission of information as part of Agenda Item 5 – ‘Licenisng Act 2003: Application to vary the premises licence at Stockport County AFC, Hardcastle Road, Edgeley’ which had been classified as ‘Not for Publication’ by virtue of it containing material which related to an individual, the Sub-Committee was satisfied that in the circumstances it was not necessary for the public to be excluded from the meeting.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive.

The report details an application from Stockport County 2010 Limited to vary the premises licence for Stockport County AFC, Hardcastle Road, Edgeley, Stockport.

The Sub-Committee is recommended to consider the application for the variation of the Premises Licence at Stockport County AFC, Hardcastle Road, Edgeley, Stockport.

Officer contact: Sarah Tooth on 0161 474 4176 or email: sarah.tooth@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing an application from Stockport County 2010 Limited for a variation of the premises licence at Stockport County AFC, Hardcastle Road, Edgeley, Stockport to permit licensable activities to take place both indoors and outdoors; add ‘anything similar to live music, recorded music and performances of dance’ as

a licensable activity; add non-standard timings for New Years Eve; increase the maximum capacity of the premises to 19,000; add conditions governing the operation of ‘large outdoor events’; vary the layout of the premises; and amend Condition 4 of Annex 2.

Representatives of the applicant attended the meeting and answered Councillors’ questions in relation to the application.   At this stage in the proceedings, the representative of the applicant indicated that they would be prepared to amend the application to:-

·         reduce the number of Category A events that would be held in any one year to one over no more than three days;

·         the number of Category B events to four over no more than two days;

·         to increase the notification period for such events;

·         and to provide additional measures in relation to the management and control of noise.

The details of these proposed amendments were contained within a revised operating schedule that was circulated at the meeting.

Four objectors to the proposal, having previously submitted written representations in relation to the application, also attended the meeting, explained their objections and answered Councillors’ questions in relation to the application.  The Sub-Committee also considered and were mindful of the further written representations that had been submitted in relation to this application.

It was noted two responsible authorities having previously made written representations, had since withdrawn those objections in the light of the proposed amendments.  As a result, there were no representations from any of the responsible authorities that remained to be considered.

The Sub-Committee, having heard the interested parties, proceeded to consider the licensing objectives in respect of the application, together with the relevant parts of the Council’s Licensing Policy and the guidance from the Home Office.  However, the decision was reached on consideration of all the arguments given in relation to this specific application.

The Sub-Committee found the following:-

(i)        Crime and Disorder

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that no relevant representations had been raised in respect of this licensing objective.

(ii)       Protection of Children

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that no relevant representations had been raised in respect of this licensing objective.

(iii)       Public Safety

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that no relevant representations had been raised in respect of this licensing objective.

(iv)      Public Nuisance

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that relevant representations had been raised in respect of this licensing objective, specifically, the representations focussed on an increase in noise nuisance associated with the playing of live and recorded music late into the night and nuisance associated with the inconsiderate parking of vehicles.

The Sub-Committee noted with approval the content of the operating schedule in relation to this licensing objective with specific reference to the inclusion of a traffic management plan.  The Sub-Committee strongly encouraged  the premises to co-operate with residents and responsible authorities to ensure that this was as robust and comprehensive as possible with the aim of reducing as far as possible the number of vehicles that travelled to the event.

The Sub-Committee further noted that the applicant had offered a number of amendments to their operating schedule as detailed in their revised operating schedule and while the Sub-Committee had great sympathy with the concerns expressed by the objectors, it was of the view that there were no further conditions that were both necessary and appropriate in order to address the prevention of public nuisance licensing objective.

It was then

RESOLVED – (1) That approval be given for licensable activities to take place both indoors and outdoors.

(2) That approval be given  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.