The Assistant Director Waste, Fleet and Transport Services will present Document “X” which outlines an application for a new Club Premises Certificate for the sale of alcohol.

Members are invited to consider the information and documents referred to in this report and, after hearing interested parties, determine the related application.

(Melanie McGurk – 01274 431873)

RECORD OF A HEARING FOR A CLUB PREMISES CERTIFICATE FOR BINGLEY CONGREGATIONAL CRICKET CLUB, CRICKET GROUND, BECKFOOT LANE, BINGLEY, BD16 1LX

Commenced:1005

Adjourned: 1050

Reconvened: 1055

Concluded: 1100

Present

Members of the Panel

Bradford District Licensing Panel: Councillor Slater (Ch), Councillor Godwin and Councillor S Khan

Parties to the Hearing

Representing the Applicant:

Mr Allen – Club Secretary

Mr Bailey – Club President

Representing Interested Parties:

Mr Beaumont – local resident

Mr and Mrs Barker – local residents

Mr and Mrs Spillane – local residents

Representations

The Assistant Director Waste, Fleet and Transport Services presented Document “X” which outlined an application for a new Club Premises Certificate for the sale of alcohol, noting also that twelve letters of objection had been received .

The Club Secretary and President then made a presentation in support of the application, explaining that the club had been developed to a stage where it now had three senior teams and that the application was intended to aid further development. They stated that they had no intention of letting the club as a venue for private functions and that they could operate within fewer hours than those applied for. They were fully aware of the limited access to the club and intended only to undertake licensable activities when the teams were practising or playing. As cricket was not played during the winter, it was intended to have limited opening only for such events as a weekly quiz, bonfire night and Sunday morning football games for the Bingley Juniors team.

The Panel questioned the Secretary and President in respect of their understanding of the terms of a club premises licence and their prospective hours of opening. In response, it was confirmed that only members would be served alcohol and that there was no intention to have 0200 finishing times for any event. That time had been put on the application as it had appeared on the template form used for guidance. It was envisaged that the club would usually be closed by 2200.

The club representatives also confirmed that it was their intention to sell alcohol to improve the financial viability of the club as it had self funded an extension to the premises and now wished to repay its investors. However it was not the intention of the club to host events unconnected to cricket. The club would continue to be run for the benefit of its members only. It was a very busy club and was in the unusual position of having three senior teams. Part of the intention to run events during the winter months was to keep members involved during the off-season. It was suggested by the club representatives that the hours of operation in the winter could finish even earlier at 2300. 

An objector then spoke on behalf of the local residents present at the hearing, explaining that their main objection was to the hours being applied for, which they considered to be far too long. They also considered that the access lane was too narrow and as it was unlit it could not cope with large volumes to traffic. Their concern was that, having been granted licence, the club would begin to operate like a night club and that noise would be clearly audible across the river and would be a nuisance to residents living there. 

Other objectors also confirmed their concerns in respect of the narrowness of the access lane; security at the club if a greater amount of money was kept on the premises; late night noise nuisance; access for emergency services and potential danger to pedestrians using the lane. The objectors all stated that a 2300 finish time would be much more preferable to them.

In conclusion, the applicants indicated their willingness to reduce the hours of their application and stated that their only objective was to see the club do well. They stressed that only genuine applications for membership from cricketers would be considered; that only players for  that day’s home game or those returning from an away venue would be on site; that only a small cash float would be at the premises and that there was already on site security in the form of roller shutters, with plans for an alarm system and CCTV to be fitted. If the application was granted, sales of alcohol would be limited to bottles and cans only. Also, it was not envisaged that many more cars would use the lane. At present, the winter quiz generated only five more vehicles per event. It was also confirmed that, even though there were 70 members, not all would be present at each match, only those available and picked to play.

An objector concluded by stating that they did not want this application to be the thin end of the wedge.

 Resolved –

That, having considered all valid representations made by the parties to the hearing; valid written representations received during the statutory period; the published statement of licensing policy and relevant statutory guidance, the panel grants the application subject to the following condition:-

            Hours of licensable activities:-

·         Monday to Thursday 1800 to 2200

·         Friday 1200 to 2300

·         Saturday 1000 to 2300

·         Sunday 1000 to 2200

Reason – it is considered that the above condition is necessary to minimise noise disturbance to nearby residents – prevention of public nuisance objective.