Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 18th October, it had agreed to grant to Limelight Belfast Limited a Seven-Day Annual Indoor Entertainments Licence in respect of the ground floor of the former Belfast Telegraph Printworks, 124-144 Royal Avenue.

            The Building Control Manager reported that an application had now been received for the variation of that licence, based upon the Council’s standard condition to provide music, singing, dancing or any other entertainment of a like kind. He explained that entertainment was provided currently from Monday to Sunday till 1.00 a.m. in the main hall, Room 2 and the bar area and lobby of the ground floor. The company was now seeking to extend the hours of operation on each night till 3.00 a.m. the following morning, with a view to aligning the venue with others in the area and attracting more international acts to the City. On all such occasions, the company would operate a public bar facility under an Occasional Liquor Licence.

            He confirmed that no written representation had been received in relation to the application and that the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the Police Service of Northern Ireland had not objected. In such circumstances, it was normal practice for the Entertainments Licence to be issued under the Council’s Scheme of Delegation.  However, given that the application related to the extension of the hours of entertainment beyond 1.00 a.m., it was being presented to the Committee for consideration.

            The Building Control Manager reported further that the premises had been inspected as part of both the Entertainments Licensing and the Building Regulations application process and that officers had been present on the only two nights on which entertainment had been held to date, namely, 30th September and 24th November. On all occasions, it had been established that the required safety measures and management procedures had been put in place to protect performers, the public and staff. He added that measures had, as part of the previous application, been implemented to minimise disturbance to neighbouring premises and that no complaints had been received in relation to the aforementioned two events. Officers of the Building Control Service would continue to engage with the Environmental Protection Unit on noise management at future events.

            The Committee was advised that Mr. A. Simms, representing Limelight Belfast Limited, was in attendance and he was invited to provide clarification around the number of nights on which the company was proposing to provide entertainment till 3.00 a.m., given that it could, on the basis of its application, potentially operate till that time on every night of the year.  

            Mr. Simms explained that the company had applied to operate till 3.00 a.m. on every night of the year primarily to eliminate the need to submit further applications to have the Entertainments Licence varied at some point in the future. He pointed out that the lease agreement between the company and BELTEL LLP permitted up to a maximum of four events to take place in any given month and that it was not the company’s intention to breach that agreement. 

            In response to a number of questions, Mr. Simms confirmed that, whilst the market might not allow for more than two eventsto be held till 3.00 a.m. each month, the company was, nevertheless, seeking the Committee’s approval to host up to four events, with a view to maximising its potential income over the period of the lease.  

            Mr. Simms was thanked by the Chairperson.

            After discussion, it was

Moved by Councillor Hussey,

Seconded by Alderman L. Patterson,

      That the Committee agrees to vary the Seven-Day Annual Indoor Entertainments Licence in respect of the Belfast Telegraph Printworks, 122-124 Royal Avenue, to enable entertainment to take place till 3.00 a.m. the following morning on up to a maximum of twenty-four nights per year.

Amendment

Moved by Councillor Boyle,

Seconded by Councillor Bunting,

      That the Committee agrees to vary the Seven-Day Annual Indoor Entertainments Licence in respect of the Belfast Telegraph Printworks, 122-124 Royal Avenue, to enable entertainment to take place till 3.00 a.m. the following morning on up to a maximum of forty-eight nights per year.  

            On a vote by show of hands twelve Members voted for the amendment and three against and it was declared carried.

            The amendment was thereupon put to the meeting as the substantive motion and passed.