Agenda and minutes

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The subcommittee were informed that on 1^st August 2017, an application for a variation of the Premises Licence PL0663 for Frankin’s Gardens was received, submitted by Squire Patton Boggs Solicitors acting on behalf of Northampton Rugby Football Club. The application requested an extension to the hours in which licensable activities could take place, bringing it in line with the premises’ current operation and to include a new layout plan. As required, notices were displayed on the premises and in the local newspaper. During the representation period, further conditions were agreed between the Rugby Club and the Environmental Health Department, the latter feeling that no further representation needed to be made.

Representations by the applicant:

Stephanie Perraton, the solicitor acting on behalf of Northampton Rugby Football Club, advised the subcommittee that the variation to the Premises Licence would streamline the process when hosting special events. The new senior management team had looked at the current licence and agreed that changes should be made and to that end, worked with Northamptonshire Police and Environmental Health and the Licensing Department to come up with a list of proposed amended conditions.

In response to questions, the subcommittee were informed that the premises had hosted 10 special functions in 2017 to date and 9 in both 2016 and 2015. It was explained that no additional promotion would take place and that the variation aimed to tackle the inflexibility of the current licence with regard to functions. It was noted that additional signage would be placed around the premises instructing customers to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion when leaving, and that catering staff and security would remain on-site until all customers were gone. Members were assured that customers would only use the main entrance to leave. It was stated currently customers would use the fire doors facing Melbourne Road to smoke; this was also to change and a designated smoking area would be set up closer to the Franklin’s Shop and near to the Beacon Bingo smoking area, further away from the properties on Melbourne Road.

Public comments:

Graham Brown, a local resident, read a statement by two other local residents, David Williams and Tracy Doubledee. The letter stated that Mr Williams and Ms Doubledee appreciated the proposed conditions added in response to residents’ concerns, and their disappointment that St James Resident’s Association were not notified of the application by the Rugby Club themselves. The letter further stated that weddings and family events did not warrant a 2am closing time. Regarding sound checks, it was pointed out that residents should have been notified 2 weeks prior to any checks being carried out; the subcommittee were told that this had never happened.

Graham Dunkley, a local resident, spoke against the application, stating that the proposed conditions did not go far enough to address residents’ concerns. He further stated that the new smoking area was not far enough removed from properties on Melbourne Road to deal with noise issues and that noise limitation generally  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.