The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to convene for a virtual meeting to consider a licensing application for We Are The Fair Limited, and to deal with any other urgent business. The primary focus was to be on a time-limited premises licence application submitted by We Are The Fair Limited for Southwark Park.

Licensing Act 2003: We Are The Fair, Southwark Park, Gomm Road, London SE16 2ET

The sub-committee was asked to consider an application by We Are The Fair Limited for a time-limited premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003 for Southwark Park. The application seeks permission to conduct licensable activities within a specific area of the park, as agreed with the council.

We Are The Fair Limited had previously held multiple time-limited licences in Burgess Park.

The report pack detailed the hours of operation applied for:

• Sale of alcohol (on sales only): Sunday to Monday 11:00 to 21:30, Friday and Saturday 11:00 to 22:00, with Sundays before bank holiday Mondays extending to 22:00.
• Regulated entertainment: Sunday to Monday 11:00 to 22:00, Friday and Saturday 11:00 to 22:30, with Sundays before bank holiday Mondays extending to 22:30.
• Opening hours: Sunday to Monday 11:00 to 23:00, Friday and Saturday 11:00 to 23:30, with Sundays before bank holiday Mondays extending to 23:30.

The licence, if granted, would be valid from 4 July 2025 to 6 June 2028.

According to the report pack, the application stated that:

Southwark Park is located in Rotherhithe and covers an area of 25ha. It features a bandstand, a bowls club, playground and cafe. This application will apply to a specific area of the park and will be identified on a site plan to be agreed with the Local Authority in advance of events taking place.

The proposed designated premises supervisor is Robert Dudley, who holds a personal licence with Birmingham City Council.

Representations

The council received representations from responsible authorities and other persons, as summarised in the report pack.

Trading Standards

The council’s trading standards team initially submitted a representation requesting additional conditions to protect children from harm. These conditions included implementing a Challenge 25 scheme¹, staff training, signage, and a register of refused sales of alcohol. After We Are The Fair Limited agreed to these conditions, the trading standards team withdrew their representation.

Southwark Park Association

The Southwark Park Association raised concerns about potential public nuisance, stating that:

We consider three days of loud music, and accompanying large crowds, over a summer weekend, will be a great nuisance to many people who regularly use the park for peace and relaxation. Moreover, based on experience with previous similar events, we believe residents living both nearby, and elsewhere in the park catchment area, will be very badly affected by noise for many hours over the three days.

The association indicated they would not be attending the hearing.

Southwark Council statement of licensing policy

The report pack referred to Southwark’s statement of licensing policy 2021-2026, approved by the council assembly on 25 November 2020 and effective from 1 January 2021. Key sections of the statement considered relevant to the sub-committee’s considerations include:

• Section 3 – Purpose and scope of the policy
• Section 5 – Determining applications for premises licenses and club premises certificates
• Section 6 – Local cumulative impact policies
• Section 7 – Hours of operation
• Section 8 – The prevention of crime and disorder
• Section 9 – Public safety
• Section 10 – The prevention of nuisance
• Section 11 – The protection of children from harm

The report pack noted that Southwark Park is located outside of a cumulative impact area², but within a residential area, and that the statement of licensing policy does not provide recommended closing hours for music festivals.

Climate change implications

The report pack noted that the council is committed to considering the climate change implications of any decisions, following a council assembly on 14 July 2021. While climate change is not a legal factor in the grant of a premises licence, the sub-committee could make enquiries and request an agreement from applicants to reduce the climate change impact of the premises' operation. Examples provided in the report pack included not using single-use plastics and encouraging patrons to use public transport.