Agenda item

            The Committee was advised that Féile an Phobail would, this year, be taking place between 2nd and 12th August and that the organisers were seeking approval to extend the standard hours on the Seven-day Annual Outdoor Entertainments Licence for the Falls Park to enable entertainment to be provided until 1.00 a.m. on four of those nights. Approval for the use of the venue had been granted by the People and Communities Committee at its meeting on 5th June.

            He explained that, whilst the organisers had applied to operate until 1.00 a.m. on the nights of Wednesday, 8th, Friday, 10th, Saturday, 11th and Sunday, 12th August, it was envisaged that entertainment would run to 1.00 a.m. only on the first of those nights and that it would conclude before that time on the remaining three evenings. They had stated that the ability to operate until 1.00 a.m. would allow them to develop a programme of diversionary activities for young people, involving, for example, sport and discussion, and would assist in addressing ongoing antisocial behaviour issues. Whilst the programme of entertainment had yet to be finalised, it would include a number of international artists and would appeal to all age groups.

            He reminded the Committee that, since this 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. He pointed out that the Police Service of Northern Ireland had not objected to the application and that it was working with the organisers to address traffic management and on their application for an Occasional Liquor Licence. The organisers had provided the Council with a draft event management plan and a proposed site plan and would continue to engage with the Building Control Service as events developed. He added that officers had, over the course of previous events, undertaken inspections whilst entertainment had been taking place and had identified no issues relating to health, safety and welfare management.

            In terms of noise nuisance, he confirmed that the Council’s Environmental Protection Unit had been notified of the intention to provide entertainment until 1.00 a.m. and that it was currently awaiting an acoustic report. He provided details around the twenty-seven noise complaints which had been received in 2017, none of which had necessitated formal action, and stressed that the organisers would be required to demonstrate that commercial and residential properties would not experience unreasonable disturbance and had been advised that significant complaints could lead to further nights being curtailed. He added that the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 provided the Council with additional powers to address noise nuisance from 11.00 p.m. onwards, if required.

            The Committee agreed to extend the standard hours on the Seven-Day Annual Outdoor Entertainments Licence for the Falls Park, to enable entertainment to take place until 1.00 a.m. the following morning on the nights of Wednesday, 8th, Friday, 10th, Saturday, 11th and Sunday, 12th August,  subject to all technical requirements being met to the satisfaction of Council officers.