Agenda item

            The Building Control Manager informed the Members that Custom House Square was managed currently by the Department for Communities and that it held both a Seven-Day Annual Outdoor Entertainments Licence and a Seven-Day Annual Marquee Entertainments Licence. Those licences were transferred to promoters, upon request, which permitted them to provide entertainment from Monday to Sunday between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 11.00 p.m., and had conditions attached in relation to occupancy levels, early consultation with residents and businesses, extended hours and addressing complaints.

            He reported that an application had been received from the organisers of the inaugural Belfast Oktoberfest event, seeking approval to have the standard hours on the Seven-day Annual Marquee Entertainments Licence for Custom House Square extended to enable entertainment to take place till midnight on six nights during October, namely, from Thursday, 19th, till Saturday, 21st and from Thursday, 26th till Saturday, 28th.  

            He explained that the event, which would be taking place over ten nights in total, was held in many cities across the world, with the aim of showcasing a range of German beers, other drinks and foods and live music. The organisers had indicated that the additional hour on each of the six nights would provide patrons with a memorable experience and an opportunity to visit surrounding bars and restaurants after their event had concluded. He reminded the Committee that it had, in recent months, granted approval for a number of events and festivals, such as the Belfast Beer Festival, the Belfast City Blues Festival and the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, to operate beyond 11.00 p.m. within the Square.  

            The Building Control Manager pointed out that, since the application related to the extension of the hours permitted under an existing licence condition, rather than the variation of the Entertainments Licence itself, there had been no requirement for it to be advertised. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the Police Service of Northern Ireland had offered no objections to the application, however, they would be attending pre-event meetings to comment upon public safety, traffic management, transport and wider operational issues. He added that officers of the Building Control Service had met with the organisers and with representatives of the Department for Communities to discuss the documentation to be submitted and would continue to work with them and other relevant parties to ensure that appropriate measures were put in place to protect public safety. They would ensure also that an appropriate letter would be issued in advance to local residents, providing details of the festival.

            In terms of noise issues, the Council’s Environmental Protection Unit would be assessing the noise management plan to ensure that local residents and businesses would not experience undue disturbance.   

            The Committee agreed that the standard hours on the Seven-day Annual Marquee Entertainments Licence for Custom House Square be extended to enable entertainment to take place till midnight on Thursday 19th, Friday 20th, Saturday 21st, Thursday 26th, Friday 27th and Saturday 28th October, as part of Belfast Oktoberfest, subject to all technical requirements being met to the satisfaction of Council officers.