The Licensing (Premises) Sub-Committee of Buckinghamshire Council was scheduled to consider a variation to the premises licence for Chalfont Park Sports Club. The meeting was also set to review the hearing procedure rules for virtual licensing sub-committees.

Chalfont Park Sports Club Premises Licence Variation

The main item scheduled for discussion was an application to vary the premises licence for Chalfont Park Sports Club in Chalfont St Peter. The proposed variation, submitted by Chalfont Park Sports Association Limited, sought to extend the licensed area to include the entire building, exterior patios, surrounding grounds, and the car park. It also aimed to add new licensable activities, including the sale of alcohol, with the intention of surrendering the existing club premises certificate.

The application proposed extending the hours for the sale of alcohol and various forms of entertainment, including live 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 no authorisation for the sale of alcohol under the premises licence itself, relying instead on the club premises certificate.

The report pack indicated that one valid objection had been received from Chalfont St. Peter Parish Council. The Parish Council raised concerns across all four licensing objectives: prevention of public nuisance, public safety, prevention of crime and disorder, and protection of children from harm. Specific concerns included:

• Prevention of Public Nuisance: Objections were raised regarding the proposed extension of hours to 02:00 daily, particularly for outdoor areas, the lack of a noise assessment or dispersal plan, and potential disturbance to wildlife along the River Misbourne.
• Public Safety: Concerns were highlighted about licensing the car park for alcohol and entertainment, the lack of defined capacity limits for outdoor areas, and the need for clear evacuation arrangements.
• Prevention of Crime and Disorder: The Parish Council noted the material change from a members' club to a venue with full public access and late-night alcohol sales, expressing concern that the applicant's stated lack of anticipated need for door supervisors was incompatible with the proposed hours and the guidance from Thames Valley Police.
• Protection of Children from Harm: The Parish Council pointed out that the proposed extended hours for films, music, entertainment, and alcohol sales, coupled with public access and outdoor drinking areas, lacked specific measures to protect children.

The report also detailed the proposed new conditions for the licence, which included measures such as installing and maintaining a CCTV system, participating in local crime reduction schemes, using polycarbonate glasses during large events, employing SIA-registered door supervisors if identified as necessary by a risk assessment, and keeping an incident log. For public safety, proposed conditions included keeping the car park clear for emergency vehicles, providing a defibrillator and trained staff, maintaining a fire risk assessment, and establishing indoor capacity limits based on a fire risk assessment. To prevent public nuisance, proposed conditions included displaying signage requesting customers to leave quietly, supervising outdoor seating areas, providing waste receptacles, and sharing event management plans with the Safety Advisory Group for significant events. For the protection of children, proposed conditions included operating a Challenge 25 proof of age scheme, providing documented staff training on refusing sales, and requiring children under 16 to be supervised by a responsible adult.

The report also referenced the Buckinghamshire Council's Statement of Licensing Policy (published March 2022) and the Home Office Guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003.

Hearing Procedure Rules

The committee was also scheduled to note the hearing procedure rules and virtual licensing sub-committee 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 provisions for attendance, participation, the order of business, and decision-making processes.