There were no apologies for absence.

The Councillors on the sub-committee declared an interest on the basis that the application had been submitted by the Council and the staff in attendance to present the application were known to them.

The sub-committee received a report of the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and Environment) concerning an application by Mr. Lee Sturgeon, on behalf of Southend-on-Sea City Council for the grant of a premises licence at East Beach, Shoeburyness, SS3 9SG.

At the outset of the meeting, the sub-committee was asked to disregard paragraph 4.3 of the submitted report of the Council’s Executive Director (Neighbourhoods & Environment) regarding the Deregulation Act 2015 as this related to premises with a capacity of 500 or less. The sub-committee was also advised that should the capacity of the premises exceed 5000 persons a higher fee would be payable.

The application was presented by Mrs R Pennington on behalf of the applicants. Mr K Ramkhelawon was also in attendance and gave evidence.

The sub-committee noted that no letters of objections to this application had been received from any of the Responsible Authorities, although conditions had been agreed with the Licensing Authority and Essex Police, both acting as a Responsible Authority during the consultation period, should the application be granted.  These conditions were set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report of the Council’s Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and Environment).

Twenty-four (24) representations had, however, been received from local residents. One of the residents subsequently withdrew their objection following dialogue with the applicant. A number of the objectors attended the meeting, but only two of them addressed the sub-committee and gave evidence.  Copies of all the remaining valid representations were provided to the sub-committee. 

The objections/representations related to all four of the licensing objectives. In particular, the concerns related to the potential of additional noise, litter, anti-social behaviour and vandalism in an area of special scientific interest in close proximity to residential properties, many of which were occupied by elderly residents, and the beach which was often used by families.  This would be exacerbated by people attending and leaving the event fuelled by alcohol, which would be available from 10.00 hrs to 22.00 hrs. This could also lead to verbal and physical abuse towards local residents by drunken persons attending an event. The application, if granted, would attract a significant number of people to the area and increase in traffic without adequate parking which would also cause major disruption to the residential streets. Any events held at this location would be difficult to police and there was no enforcement of the current problems endured caused by trippers to the area.  There was also the risk of fire caused by discarded cigarettes on the dry grass and gorse hedges, adjacent to the residential properties.  Broken glass could be left by patrons of the premises. The event should not therefore be held at this location and should be moved to another area such as Garon Park, away from residential properties and already established as an outdoor event venue. Concerns were also expressed as the urgency to determine this application to enable an event to take place, arrangements for which were in the process of being set up on site and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 218.