The Licensing Sub-Committee met to consider a request to vary a premises licence, and to determine the procedure for licensing hearings. Councillor Zulfiqar Hussain, Councillor Saira Y. Jamil, and Councillor Jamal Uddin were scheduled to be in attendance.

Matts BBQ Licensing Application

The central item for consideration was an application to vary the premises licence for Matts BBQ, located at Forest Road Playing Fields, Forest Road, Hainault, IG6 3HJ. Matthuw Robinson, director of Matts BBQ Limited, applied to Redbridge Council, acting as the Licensing Authority, to vary premises licence No. 085327 under the Licensing Act 2003.

Currently, the licence permits one three-day food, drink, and music festival each calendar year, with a maximum capacity of 4,999 people. The application requested the following changes:

• To increase the number of permitted events from one to two three-day events per year.
• To increase the venue capacity from 4,999 to 14,999 people.
• To amend conditions relating to security levels.
• To amend the 'over 18 only' condition to allow families to attend.

The current licence permits the following activities and hours:

• Provision of Live Music, Recorded Music and Performances of Dance: Friday to Saturday: 12:00 until 23:00 hours, Sunday: 12:00 until 22:00 hours
• Sale by Retail of Alcohol for Consumption on the Premises: Friday to Saturday: 12:00 until 22:30 hours, Sunday: 12:00 until 21:30 hours
• Hours premises are open to the public: Friday to Saturday: 12:00 until 23:30 hours, Sunday: 12:00 until 22:30 hours

A report was prepared for the councillors that summarised the application, representations received, relevant policies, and legal implications. The report stated that a representation was received from the Council's Licensing Enforcement Team, raising concerns that granting the variation could undermine the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder, public safety, and preventing public nuisance. Three representations were also received from other persons, who objected to the licence application on similar grounds.

The Licensing Enforcement Team formally objected to the application for an increase to 14,999 capacity, stating that:

The applicant's current proposals fail to provide sufficient information or robust evidence to satisfy us that the licensing objectives will be upheld at this capacity.

The report noted that the Licensing Enforcement Team were prepared to enter into discussions and potentially support a conditional variation for a maximum capacity of 7,500, subject to the applicant providing comprehensive and independently reviewed security and traffic management plans.

The report also noted that the current Statement of Licensing Policy expects applications to address public safety issues arising from the proposed licensable activities, and that applicants are advised to seek appropriate Fire Prevention and Health and Safety advice and to consult with the London Fire Brigade and Emergency Planning Authority before preparing their plans and applications.

The report outlined several options available to the Sub-Committee under section 35 of the Licensing Act 2003, including:

• Granting the application in full.
• Granting the application with modifications to the licence conditions.
• Granting the application in part only, with modifications to the licence conditions.
• Rejecting the application in full.

Procedure for Licensing Hearings

The sub-committee was scheduled to determine the procedure for licensing hearings. The chair of the sub committee was expected to explain the procedure to be adopted at the hearing. An officer of the Licensing Authority was expected to present a short factual summary of the application. The sub committee was then expected to consider evidence from the applicant, responsible authorities, and interested parties, in that order. Each party would have the opportunity to question the others and to sum up their case. The sub committee would then decide the matter in private, and official notice of the decision would be sent to all parties within 5 working days.