Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report.

 

“1.0     Relevant Background Information

 

1.1       An application was received on 18th May, 2012 from the Parks and Leisure Department of the Council for grant of a Fourteen-day Occasional Outdoor Licence at Belfast Zoo based on the Council’s standard conditions to provide outdoor musical entertainment.

 

            Premises and Location    Ref. No.               Applicant

 

            Belfast Zoo                       WK/2012/00820   Belfast City Council

            Antrim Road                                                  Parks & Leisure Dept

            Belfast                                                                        24-26 Adelaide Street

            BT36 7PN                                                       Belfast, BT2 6DG

 

1.2       The Zoo currently does not hold any type of Entertainment Licence as they have never provided any Entertainment in the past.

 

1.3       The main purpose for the application is to allow the Zoo to hold eight performances which will take place over six days running from Friday 10th August to Sunday 12th August and Friday 17th August to Sunday 19th August, 2012. The event is an operatic performance by NI Opera of Benjamin Britten’s ‘Noye’s Fludde’ which will be provided during the Zoo’s normal operating times and will be ticket only.

 

1.4       The area proposed to be licensed to provide Outdoor Entertainment is the area at the side of the Zoo’s lake and a purpose built stage which will be built over the lake and secured on the hard standings around it.

 

1.5       They propose to face the stage towards the playground area, which will allow the audience to sit on the grass surrounding the lake to ensure they have a good view of the performance.

 

1.6       There is a slight ‘amphitheatre’ cambering on the grass area at this point and the organisers would like to maximise this for the event.

 

1.7       The orchestra will be located on the road in front of the ‘Sitatunga Enclosure’.

 

1.8       The proposed area has a maximum capacity of approximately 600 persons and only 300 tickets will initially be available for each performance, thus the area could comfortably accommodate any increased demand for ticket sales.

 

1.9       There will be no seating provided and guests will be seated on the lawns and grassed areas around the lake. A site plan has been appended to this report for your information.

 

1.10     The organisers also intend to utilise some of the Zoo’s rooms for changing rooms and a temporary marquee will be positioned at the side of the Floral Hall for the chorus.

 

1.11     Members should also be aware that each of the performances will be taking place during normal opening hours at the Zoo, so the audience for the performances will represent a relatively small percentage of the total number of Zoo visitors.

 

1.12     The applicant has advised that, if a licence is granted, it is not the intention to regularly provide entertainment and the application is mainly for this event. However, they may use the Licence for other similar events in the future.

 

2.0Key Issues

 

2.1       Members are reminded that the normal process for dealing with Entertainments Licence applications which are not the subject of objections, is that the Director of Health and Environmental Services will grant the licence as provided for in the Council’s Scheme of Delegation. However, at your meeting on 21 September 2011, you agreed that all future applications for outdoor entertainment be brought before Committee for your consideration.

2.2       Objections

 

            No written representation has yet been lodged as a result of the public notices of the application. However the 28 day objection period will not expire until 15 June 2012, after this report was written.  Should any objections be made they will be placed before the Committee on the night of your meeting.

 

2.3       PSNI

 

            The Police Service of Northern Ireland has been consulted and has no objection to the application.

 

2.4       EPU

 

            The Environmental Protection Unit (EPU) of the Department has been consulted and do not envisage noise nuisance from the entertainment proposed.

 

2.5       Building Control

 

            Officers of the Service are currently liaising with the Parks and Leisure Departments Representative and the event Organisers to evaluate the Event Management Plan and respective site plan to ensure that all technical matters are being taken into consideration and dealt with.

 

2.6       Licensee

 

            The applicant will be available at your meeting to answer any queries you may have in relation to the application.

 

3.0Resource Implications

 

3.1       Financial

 

            Officers will be required to carry out inspections at the event but this is catered for within existing budgets.

 

3.2       Human Resources

 

            None

 

3.3       Asset and Other Implications

 

            None

 

4.0Equality and Good Relations Considerations

 

4.1       There are no equality or good relations issues.

5.0Recommendations

 

5.1       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 a Fourteen-day Occasional Outdoor Licence, or

 

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

 

3.     refuse the application for the grant of the licence.

 

5.2       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.

 

            After discussion, it was

 

      Resolved – That the Committee, in its capacity as Licensing Authority, grants a Fourteen-day Occasional Outdoor Entertainment Licence in respect of the Belfast Zoo, Antrim Road to operate during the period from 10th August to 12th August and 17th August to 19th August.