Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

 

“1.0     Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

 

1.1       To consider an application for the grant of a Seven-Day Annual Outdoor Entertainments Licence and for permission to provide entertainment till 2.00 am at 21 Social, based on the Council’s standard conditions to provide outdoor musical entertainment.

 

Area and Location	Ref. No.	Applicant
21 Social 1 Hill Street Belfast BT1 2LA	WK/201702078	Mr. Henry Downey Eagle-Glen Limited, 27 Drumard Road, Knockloughrim, Magherafelt

 

1.2       A copy of the application form and a location map has been circulated to Members.

 

1.3       Members are reminded that all applications for the grant of Outdoor Entertainments Licences must be brought before the Committee for consideration.

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       Taking into account the information presented and any representations made in respect of the application you are required to make a decision to either:

 

1.     approve the application for the grant of the Seven-Day Annual Outdoor Entertainments Licence and for permission to provide entertainment till 2.00 a m, or

 

2.     approve the application for the grant with special conditions, or

 

3.     refuse the application for the grant of the Seven-Day Annual Outdoor Entertainments Licence and for permission to provide entertainment till 2.00 a.m.

 

2.2       If an application is refused, or special conditions are attached to the licence to which the applicant does not consent, then the applicant may appeal the Council’s decision within 21 days of notification of that decision to the County Court. In the case that the applicant subsequently decides to appeal, outdoor entertainment may not be provided until any such appeal is determined.

 

3.0       Main Report

 

            Key Issues

 

3.1       The applicant has applied to provide entertainment within the new outdoor area, in line with the premises Indoor Entertainments Licence, on the following days and hours:

 

·        Monday to Saturday: 11.30 am to 2.00 am the following morning, and

·        Sunday: 12.30 pm to 2.00 am the following morning

 

3.2       Members are reminded that applications to provide outdoor entertainment beyond the permitted hours are subject to consideration by Committee.

 

3.3       The applicant proposes to provide entertainment within the new outdoor area in the form of DJs and live bands. The outdoor area is now covered by the liquor Licence for the premises. The Committee has been provided with layout plans of the new outdoor area.

 

3.4       The premises have recently been acquired by Eagle-Glen Limited and they have created the new outdoor area as part of their refurbishment of the premises.

 

3.5       Eagle-Glen Limited is also the licensee for a number of other licensed premises across the City, namely, the Apartment, 2 Donegall Square West; The Kitchen Bar, 1 Victoria Square and McHugh’s Bar, 29-31 Queen’s Square.

 

            Representations

 

3.6       Public notice of the application has been placed and no written representation has been lodged as a result of the advertisement.

 

            PSNI

 

3.7       The Police Service of Northern Ireland has been consulted and has confirmed that it has no objection to the application.  A copy of its response has been circulated to the Committee.

 

 

            NIFRS

 

3.8       The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service was also consulted and has no objection to the application.

 

            Health, Safety and Welfare

 

3.9       The premise has been subject to inspections as part of the Entertainments Licence application process and the works carried out under the Building Regulations application.

 

3.10     The premises have also been subject to regular during performance inspections as part of our inspection regime. A total of two during performance inspections have been carried out since the Indoor Entertainments Licence was last renewed.

 

3.11     As a result, all technical requirements and associated operational and management procedures to safeguard the safety of the public, performers and staff have been checked. No issues have been observed during the inspections.

 

            Noise

 

3.12     An acoustic report outlining the measures to be taken when outdoor entertainment is being provided has been received and assessed by the Environmental Protection Unit (EPU). The report outlines the measures to be put in place to minimise disturbance to neighbouring premises, either due to noise breakout or from patron activity.

 

3.13     The report proposes for music to be limited to 69dB Laeq 5min at one metre from speakers, thus the noise from the venue will be inaudible at the nearest noise sensitive premises. The report allows for a 50m of distance attenuaton and 15dB of attenuation provided by the the screening of surrounding buildings and concludes that this would result in a façade measurement of 30dB at the nearest noise sensitive premises.

 

3.14     Having assessed the acoustic report and various measures being put in place, EPU are of the opinion that the noise from the area of the premises will not adversely impact on nearby noise sensitive prmeises.

 

3.15     Should Members be of a mind to grant the outdoor licence, it is suggested that a condition requiring amplified music to be limited to 69dB Laeq 5min at one metre from the speakers be attached to the licence.

 

3.16     Members are reminded that the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2011 gives councils additional powers in relation to the control of entertainment noise after 11.00 pm.

 

            Applicant

 

3.17     The applicant, and/or their representatives, will be available at your meeting to answer any queries you may have in relation to the application.

 

            Financial and Resource Implications

 

3.18     Officers will be required to carry out inspections for each outdoor event and attend any planning meetings which are catered for within existing budgets.

 

            Equality or Good Relations Implications

 

3.19     There are no equality or good relations issues associated with this report.”

 

            The Committee agreed to grant a Seven-Day Annual Outdoor Entertainments Licence for 21 Social, 1 Hill Street, with a condition to be attached requiring amplified music to be limited to 69dB Laeq 5min at one metre from the speakers.