(Ash and New Ash Green, Fawkham and West Kingsdown and Hartley and Hodsoll Street)

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Hearing gave consideration to the report by the Senior Licensing Officer giving details of an application for a new premises license for Redlibbets Golf Club. She provided a brief overview of the application, explaining that during the consultation period 15 representations had been received from local residents. She also brought to the attention of the Hearing the supplementary agenda which revised some of the proposals with respect to allowing live music both indoors and outdoors, recorded music and anything similar to live music, recorded music or performance of dance. There were also revised location plans.

The Applicant advised that following the discussions with Environmental Protection, he had reviewed and wished to reduce the timings for the sale of alcohol, and advised that it was their intention to work with the local community. The revised plan indicated where the music would take place outside and not go on late into the night. The golf course would remain open to non-members on a pay and play basis.

The Legal Advisor reminded the Hearing that following the Live Music Act, as long as there was an alcohol licence in place, then the playing of live and recorded music was permitted until 11pm as long as there were limits to the number of people present. He also advised that the Hearing could consider whether the condition as agreed by the Applicant and Environmental Protection to close windows and doors, would be more appropriately applied to all activities taking place indoors rather than just the playing of live or recorded music.

The Applicant advised that in regards to alcohol timings they would be happy to change the application to reflect: Monday to Thursday 10am to 12am, Friday to Saturday 10am to 1am and Sunday 10am to 11.30pm.

Residents present took the opportunity to ask questions of the applicant, expressing their concerns at the alcohol licence going on too late. The Environmental Protection Officer advised that she had agreed with the Applicant what would be appropriate, following the licence that was already in place. She advised that there had been no substantial complaints on record regarding noise from the club house.

The Chairman requested clarification of Section H of the licensable activities, and whether this was to be amended to the same hours as agreed with Environmental Protection. The Applicant confirmed it was.

The Hearing heard from the residents present who expressed their concerns with the number of people who were drunk and disorderly leaving the golf club late at night and the disturbance this caused, as well as the additional traffic noise. The Chairman advised that although traffic noise was not a licensable activity, she requested that the Applicant may be minded to include additional signage at strategic points in the car park and at the club exit requesting Members and guests to be considerate of neighbouring residents when leaving. The Applicant advised that this would be something they could include in their policies and offered to place speed limit signs along the route. The golf club wanted to work with the local community and could also provide a direct manned telephone number for the residents to contact them on in the event of a complaint.

Members asked questions of clarification of the residents and whether noise disturbance was a long term issue occurring under previous ownership of the club. In response the resident advised that it had been a long term complaint and complaints had been made to Environmental Protection.

The Chairman requested that going forward better communication took place between the Applicant and residents, and if there was an infringement of the conditions in place then a complaint be made to Environmental Protection and the Licensing Team for investigation.

Members requested further information in regards to the outdoor refreshments and the trolley selling alcohol, and where the payment for the alcohol would be made.

The Applicant advised that the selling of alcohol from the drinks buggy would be only during day-light hours for the users of the golf course only. Payment would be taken at the golf buggy. Following concerns raised by the residents present at the Hearing, it was suggested that additional training be provided to the golf buggy operators, regarding sales of alcohol for only the users of the golf club. The Applicant agreed to include this in the club’s policies. The Applicant requested that alcohol could also be sold outside where music was permitted.

The Chairman confirmed that any fireworks displays would be limited to 12 times a year, within the marked area in the revised plan. She also queried whether Bank Holiday and New Year’s Eve timings and when the playing of live or recorded music ended then all activities ended.

The Applicant requested that on a Sunday before a Bank Holiday to amend the supply of alcohol and the performance of live or recorded music to continue to 11.30pm. He confirmed that he was happy for the actual Bank Holiday to remain as the standard timings.

The Environmental Protection Officer requested the outside timings on the day before Bank Holidays to remain as agreed, with the applicant to end at 10pm to prevent any nuisance of noise.

At 11.30 am the Sub-Committee ended the Hearing and the Chairman confirmed that a decision would be made within 5 working days and provided to the parties thereafter.