Agenda and minutes

1.                  NORTHANTS CRICKET CLUB, THE COUNTY GROUND, ABINGTON AVENUE, NORTHAMPTON, NN1 4PR

The Licensing Officer outlined the purpose of the hearing and explained that an application had been received from Northants Cricket Club for a fixed period licence to cover the period from 1^st June 2011 to 10^th August 2011 to include the playing area and all associated outdoor areas and the former bowling club at the County Ground. He explained that two objections had been received one from Northants Police and one from the Senior Environmental Health Officer, which were judged to satisfy one or more of the Licensing Objectives. He then explained the procedure for the hearing.

Representation by the Police

Pc Bryan (Northants Police) explained that their original objection to the application had been on the grounds of Crime and Disorder as it was regarded that the operating schedule was too vague. However, since the original submission of the objection a number of meetings had been held with the Police and the Northants Cricket Club and the problem had been resolved with both parties in agreement of the conditions that had been put in place.

Representation by Environmental Health

The Senior Environmental Health Officer explained that there had been continued discussion with the representative from the Cricket Club and they were now reasonably satisfied that noise levels could be managed and controlled but that a number of conditions should be placed on the license to ensure that the noise levels were not unacceptable.  He reported that the proposed noise level would be above the Code of Practices recommended noise level. He explained that there had been a number of concerts held at similar venues and there had been a limited number of problems as a result and stated he did not recommended that the license be refused but that a number of conditions should be put on the license to ensure that any excessive noise would not be a problem to local residents.

Questions to Environmental Health

In response to a question asked by Councillor Pam Varnsverry, Mr Mallard confirmed that the levels of noise would not be constant in exceeding the Code or Practice’s noise levels, but it would most likely occur intermittently as music would crescendo at various times of the day which he explained was the experience had at similar events. In response to a question asked by the Chair, it was explained that excess noise would most likely to occur at the mixing desk but houses in close proximity would be most probable to endure a level of between 5 and 10 decibels over the Code of Practice recommendations of 75 decibels. However, he commented that having any less than 85 decibels would take away the essence of the concert. One of the conditions offered was ‘The Premises License shall only allow for regulated entertainment on one day through out the duration of the Premises License’. The solicitor and chair pointed out that it seemed very onerous and asked whether the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.