Agenda item

            The Committee was informed that a 7-Day Annual Outdoor Entertainments Licence and a 7-Day Annual Indoor Licence for a Marquee had been granted for Falls Park and both had been used to hold numerous events in the past; primarily for the Féile an Phobail event. The Licences were held by the City and Neighbourhood Services Department and were transferred to the organisers for the duration of their event. The days and hours during which entertainment might be provided both outdoors and in a marquee, were Monday to Sunday from 11.30 am to 11.00 pm.  

            The Committee was advised that Féile an Phobail would, this year, be taking place between 8th and 11th 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 three of those nights. Approval for the use of the venue had been granted by the People and Communities Committee at its meeting on 4th June.

            The Building Control Manager explained that, whilst the organisers had applied to operate until 1.00 a.m. on the nights of Thursday, 8th, Saturday, 10th and Sunday, 11th 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 two 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 and would assist in addressing ongoing antisocial behaviour issues. Whilst the programme of entertainment had yet to be finalised, it would be the genre and type of entertainment similar to previous years and would appeal to all age groups.

            He pointed out that, in addition to the entertainment and social aspect of the event, there were also proposals to introduce activities involving sport and discussion for the youth to engage with such as a televised international boxing event on 3rdAugust, however this activity would fall outside the scope of the Outdoor Entertainments Licence.

            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 and advised that the Council was awaiting a response from the Police Service of Northern Ireland in relation to the event.

            In relation to Health, Safety and Welfare Issues, the Building Control Manager reported that the officers had engaged with the organisers but await receipt of the Event Management Plan, however, inspections carried out at previous events organised by Féile an Phobail found that the organisers had adhered to the health, safety and welfare management requirements during that time.

            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 advised that twenty noise complaints had been received in 2018, 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 Thursday, 8th, Saturday, 10th and Sunday, 11th August, subject to all technical requirements being met to the satisfaction of Council officers and no objections being received from the Police Service of Northern Ireland.