Agenda item

            The Committee was advised that an application had been received from the Council’s Parks and Leisure Department for the grant of a Seven-day Annual Entertainments Licence (Outdoor and Indoor) in respect of the Boucher Road Playing Fields.

            The Head of Building Control reported that an Entertainments Licence had been granted previously during 2008 for the Playing Fields.  However, it had expired during 2010.  The standards hours and days for both an outdoor Entertainments Licence and for an Indoor Licence for a marquee were Monday to Sunday from 11.30 a.m. till 11.00 p.m.

            He pointed out that the current application related to two separate events which would be held during August and that the organisers of one of the planned events wished to operate beyond 11.00 p.m.  He reminded the Committee that the new legislation, which came into force in Northern Ireland on 1st April, 2012, namely, the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environmental Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, extended the Council’s powers under the Noise Act 1996, which applied night time noise control between the hours of 11.00 p.m. to 7.00 a.m. for noise from residential dwellings, to include night time noise control over other ‘offending premises’.

            The Head of Building Control advised the Members that the Parks and Leisure Committee, at its meeting on 14th June, had granted approval for the use of the Boucher Road Playing Fields for two separate events to be held at that site during August, subject to the event organisers meeting all statutory requirements, including Entertainments Licensing.  He pointed out that the Tennent’s Vital Festival was scheduled to take place during the period from 21st till 22nd August and that 45,000 tickets had been made available for sale for each night, with entertainment planned to last from 6.00 p.m. until 10.45 p.m.  He reported that the promoter had extensive experience of organising outdoor events and had organised many other events in Belfast, such as Tennent’s Vital Concerts at the Botanic Gardens and Ormeau Park.

            The second event, which would take place over three days in a marquee during the period from 10th till 12th August, which was entitled ‘Quay Vipers MCC 11th Snakebite Rally’, would be held at the following times:

            Friday, 10th August:                7.15 p.m. – 1.00 a.m., the following morning;

            Saturday, 11th August:           6.45 p.m. – 1.30 a.m., the following morning; and

            Sunday, 12th August:              6.30 p.m. – 11.00 p.m.

            The Snakebite Rally was an annual event within the local motorcycle fraternity and had been held at various locations such as the Drumnagreagh Hotel and Benone Beach.  The organisers had agreed to reduce the hours of entertainment from their original submission to 11.00 p.m. on the final night but had requested that they retain the late hours for the other two nights in order to maximise the appeal of the event which had run to this time in previous years within other Council areas.

            The Head of Building Control reported that no written representations had been lodged as a result of the public notices.  In addition, the Police Service of Northern Ireland had been consulted and had indicated that it was unable to comment until further information had been provided in relation to the planned events.  However, it had indicated that it had general concerns in relation to the potential noise and departure of large numbers associated with the Tennent’s Vital Festival.  In this regard, the Head of Building Control reported that, as with all such events, a series of detailed planning meetings would be held in order to look at traffic management, transport and any wider operational policing issues.

            After discussion, it was

      Resolved – That the Committee, in its capacity as Licensing Authority, agrees to grant to the Parks and Leisure Department a Seven-day Annual Entertainments Licence (Outdoor and Indoor) in respect of the Boucher Road Playing Fields and to the holding of the events on the times and dates outlined, subject to the additional conditions as outlined in the report.