The Licensing (Premises) Sub-Committee of Buckinghamshire Council was scheduled to consider an application to vary the premises licence for Chalfont Park Sports Club. The meeting's agenda also included procedural matters related to virtual hearings.

Application to Vary Premises Licence at Chalfont Park Sports Club

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application to vary the premises licence for Chalfont Park Sports Club in Chalfont St Peter. The application, submitted by Mr Roger Sewell on behalf of Chalfont Park Sports Association Limited, sought to significantly alter the existing licence.

The proposed variations included:

• Extending the Licensed Area: To update the internal layout and extend the licensed area to encompass the entire building, exterior patios, surrounding grounds, and the car park.
• Additional Licensable Activities: To include new licensable activities, specifically the sale of alcohol, with the intention of surrendering the existing club premises certificate. This would allow alcohol sales and other licensable activities to be provided to non-members.
• Updated Operating Hours: The application proposed extending the hours for licensable activities, including the sale of alcohol, live music, and recorded music, to run daily from 10:00 to 02:00. This represents a significant increase from the current licence, which has more restricted hours for music and entertainment and does not currently authorise the sale of alcohol under the premises licence.
• New Conditions: The application also proposed adding new licence conditions to cover areas such as CCTV, participation in local crime reduction schemes, the use of polycarbonate glasses during events with elevated risk, the employment of SIA-registered door supervisors where identified as necessary by a risk assessment, and the maintenance of an incident log.

The report pack indicated that the Chief Officer of Police, the Fire and Rescue Authority, and the Licensing Authority had not raised objections. However, the Chalfont St Peter Parish Council submitted a valid objection, citing concerns across all four licensing objectives: prevention of public nuisance, public safety, prevention of crime and disorder, and protection of children from harm.

The Parish Council's representation highlighted concerns about:

• Extended Hours and Noise: The proposed 02:00 terminal hour for all activities, including outdoor areas, was considered incompatible with the rural fringe location and potential disturbance to nearby residents and the River Misbourne¹.
• Lack of Dispersal Plan: Concerns were raised about managing customer departure, particularly given the absence of public transport and the proximity of residential properties.
• Car Park Licensing: The proposal to license the car park for alcohol and entertainment was seen as a safety risk due to potential conflicts with vehicle movements.
• Unspecified Outdoor Capacity: The application did not specify a capacity limit for the extensive outdoor areas, raising concerns about unmanaged crowding and safe evacuation.
• Change in Character: The shift from a members' club to a venue with full public access and extended hours was considered a material change. The Parish Council noted the applicant's statement that they do not anticipate a need for door supervisors, which they deemed incompatible with a 02:00 terminal hour.
• Protection of Children: The proposed late-night operation of films, music, entertainment, and alcohol sales, coupled with public access and outdoor drinking areas, raised concerns about the protection of children, especially given the club's stated community and family ethos.

The Parish Council suggested that a scaled-back, community-focused licence with more reasonable hours and indoor-only licensing would be more appropriate.

Procedural Matters

The meeting was also scheduled to note the hearing procedure rules and virtual licensing subcommittee procedural rules, as outlined in the Addendum Licensing and Regulatory Sub-Committee Virtual Procedural Rules. These rules detail the procedures for conducting hearings remotely, including arrangements for attendance, participation, and decision-making.