To consider an application for the Grant of a Premises Licence in respect of Stories in the Park, Palmer Park, Wokingham Road, Reading.

The Sub-Committee considered a report on an application for the grant of a premises licence in respect of Stories in the Park, a biannual festival held in Palmer Park, Wokingham Road, Reading.

The report explained that there was currently a licence in force for the event and that the applicant had previously applied for, and had been granted, a licence, valid for 8 days per calendar year only: four days in June and four days in September. The terms of the existing licence required the applicant to notify Reading Borough Council’s Licensing Team and Thames Valley Police of the precise dates of the events at least 90 days before the first date in June and September respectively. A copy of the existing premise licence was attached to the report at Appendix LIC-8.

The report explained that an application had been submitted by T&M Leisure Reading Limited for a new premises licence to replace the current premises licence. The premises licence holder would surrender their current licence if a new premises licence was granted.

The report explained that the application was identical to the previous licence (LP2002994) save that it sought:

a)             to increase the capacity of the event(s) from 4999 to 9999;

b)             a small increase to hours on a Sunday;

c)             The dates of the events to be notified to the Council's Licensing Team and Thames Valley Police at least 90 days before the event;

d)             Boxing to be permitted on a Thursday of an event period in both June and September;

e)             The Event Management Plan (EMP) to be submitted at least 90 days before and event period and the final EMP to be provided at least 14 days before an event period,

The report stated that the application was for the grant of a Premises Licence for the following:

Licensable Activities and Hours:

Sale by Retail of Alcohol (On the Premises)

Monday to Sunday from 1200hrs until 2200hrs

Indoor Sporting Events

Thursday from 1200hrs until 2230hrs

Provision of Boxing or Wrestling Entertainments (Indoors and Outdoors)

Thursday from 1200hrs until 2230hrs

Live Music – Recorded Music – Performances of Dance – Anything Similar To These three (Indoors and Outdoors)

Monday to Sunday from 1200hrs until 2230hrs

Hours Open to the Public

Monday to Sunday from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

A copy of the Premises Licence Application Form was attached to the report at Appendix LIC-1.

A copy of the conditions agreed between Reading Borough Council’s Licensing Team, Thames Valley Police and the Applicant was attached to the report at Appendix LIC-2.

During the 28-day consultation period for the application five representations from local residents had been received by Reading Borough Council (RBC). These were attached to the report as appendices LIC-3 to LIC-7. A representation had also been received from Reading Borough Council’s Licensing Team but this had been withdrawn after conditions had been agreed with the Applicant.

The report stated that in determining the application the Licensing Authority had a duty to carry out its functions with a view to promoting the four licensing objectives, as follows:

·                The prevention of crime and disorder;

·                Public safety;

·                The prevention of public nuisance;

·                The protection of children from harm.

The report set out paragraphs 1.2 to 1.5, 8.41, 8.42, 8.44 to 8.49, 9.12, 9.39, 9.40, 9.42 and 9.43 from the Secretary of State’s Guidance to the Licensing Act 2003 issued in August 2023.  The report also set out paragraphs 1.6, 3.1, 3.2, 5.4 to 5.7, 5.51, 6.1, 6.2, 6.5, 6.7 to 6.10, 7.2 to 7.4, 7.6, 7.8, 7.11, 7.12, 8.6, 8.16, 9.1 to 9.7, 9.12, 10.1 and 10.3 from the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.

Toby Mullins, Director, T&M Leisure Limited and Luke Elford, John Gaunt & Partners Licensing Solicitors, were present at the meeting, addressed the Sub-Committee on the application and answered questions.

Peter Narancic, RBC Senior Licensing and Enforcement Officer, presented the report to the Sub-Committee.

In reaching their decision the Sub-Committee gave due consideration to the written evidence contained in the paperwork and the oral evidence at the meeting and to the relevant legislation and policies of Reading Borough Council as set out above.

Resolved –

(1)           That, after taking into consideration the Licensing Act 2003, the Secretary of State’s Guidance issued under section 182 of that Act, the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Equality Act 2010 and Reading Borough Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and the promotion of the four Licensing Objectives:

·       the prevention of crime and disorder,

·      public safety;

·      the prevention of public nuisance;

·      the protection of children from harm

and considering the written and oral representations received from the Applicant and from objectors, the Sub-Committee agreed to grant the Premises Licence subject to the agreed conditions set out at Appendix LIC 2 to the report and the surrender of the existing Premises Licence.