Agenda and minutes

It was moved by Councillor Townsend and seconded by Councillor Bull that Councillor Dunlop be appointed Chairman for the meeting. After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that Councillor Dunlop be appointed Chairman for the meeting.

To receive apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

The Chairman welcomed all participants to the meeting and asked that they use their microphones when speaking as the meeting was being webcast.

To receive any Members’ Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the Minutes of Previous Sub-Committee meetings:

22 May 2023

6 June 2023

It was moved by Councillor Townsend and seconded by Councillor Bull that the Minutes of the Sub-Committee meetings held on 22 May 2023 and 6 June 2023 be confirmed as correct and signed by the Chairman. After being put to the meeting, and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Sub-Committee meetings held on 22 May 2023 and 6 June 2023 be signed by the Chairman.

A summary of the procedure to be followed during consideration of item 7 is attached.

The Chairman drew the hearings attention to the Summary of Procedure which was included in the agenda pack at pages 22 - 28.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services advised the hearing that additional evidence had been received from the Applicant on 10 August 2023. He said that this evidence had been received outside of the required timeframe, which was no later than five working days before the date of the hearing.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services said that in line with hearing regulations the late additional evidence received from the Applicant could be included at the acceptance of the other participants. 

The Chairman asked each of the Interested Parties and the Responsible Authorities if they were happy to accept the additional late evidence received from the Applicant.

After receiving the agreement of each of the Interested Parties and the Responsible Authorities, the Chairman advised the hearing that redacted copies of the late evidence received from the Applicant would be made available. He said that there would be an adjournment of forty-five minutes to allow all participants to read and digest these papers.

Councillor Dunlop proposed and Councillor Bull seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting for forty-five minutes to allow all participants to read and digest the late additional evidence received from the Applicant. After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED. 

RESOLVED – that the meeting be adjourned for approximately forty-five minutes.

The meeting reconvened at 10.50, with all participants in agreement that they were happy to proceed.

The Chairman asked the Senior Licensing and Enforcement Officer if he had anything to add with regards to the late additional evidence received from the Applicant. The Senior Licensing and Enforcement Officer said he would let the Applicant address the late additional evidence, which now sought a licence to allow 7000 event attendees.

The Senior Licensing and Enforcement Officer presented his report and summarised the application. There were no questions from the applicant, the Responsible Authorities or the Interested Parties. 

The Applicant’s legal representative presented the application and questions were answered from the Sub-Committee and the Interested Parties. There were no questions from the Responsible Authorities or officers.

The Responsible Authority (Hertfordshire Constabulary) gave their submission and introduced their witness from Hertfordshire County Council. Questions were answered from the Applicant, the Sub-Committee and the Interested Parties. There were no questions from Officers. 

The Interested Parties made their submissions and questions were answered by the Applicant. There were no questions from the Sub-Committee, the Responsible Authorities or Officers. 

In line with procedure, at the conclusion of closing statements, the Sub-Committee retired to consider the evidence presented to the hearing by the Applicant and the Applicant’s Legal Advisor, the responsible authorities and the interested parties. They were accompanied by the Democratic Services Officer and the Head of Legal and Democratic Services. 

The Sub-Committee reconvened in public session to give its decision. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services set out the legal advice which he had given to the Sub-Committee during their deliberations.

The Chairman said that the Sub-Committee had considered the application for a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

To consider such other business as, in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting, is of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration and is not likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information.

There was no urgent business.