The Alcohol & Gambling Licensing Sub-Committee of West Northamptonshire Council is scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for Northampton Rugby Football Club Ltd. The meeting will also address the exclusion of the press and public for certain agenda items.

New Premises Licence Application for Northampton Rugby Football Club

A significant item on the agenda is the consideration of a new premises licence application for Northampton Rugby Football Club Ltd, located at Franklins Gardens, Weedon Road, Northampton, NN5 5BG. The application is for a time-limited licence for a single outdoor music event to take place between 27 June and 28 June 2026. The proposed activities include regulated entertainment, specifically live and recorded music, and the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises.

The application outlines specific timings for these activities, with recorded music scheduled from 12:00 to 21:00, live music from 12:45 to 22:00, and the sale of alcohol from 12:00 to 23:30. The event is expected to attract between 5,000 and 9,999 attendees.

The report pack indicates that a relevant representation has been received from a member of the public, raising concerns about potential noise and its impact on the licensing objective of preventing public nuisance. Environmental Protection has agreed on additional conditions with the applicant, which are detailed in the provided documents. The sub-committee will need to determine the appropriate action in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, promoting the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. The sub-committee has several options, including granting the licence with conditions, excluding a licensable activity, refusing to specify a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), or rejecting the application entirely.

The report also highlights that the deregulatory exemptions for amplified live and recorded music do not apply to this application due to the expected audience size exceeding 500 people. The legal comments provided by James Chadwick, Principal Lawyer, Legal Services, emphasise that decisions must be evidence-based, proportionate, and focused on promoting the licensing objectives, with appropriate weight given to representations, statutory guidance, and the council's licensing policy. The guidance from section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 is referenced, particularly concerning the prevention of public nuisance, which focuses on the effect of licensable activities on those living and working in the surrounding area. The guidance also stresses the importance of avoiding inappropriate or disproportionate measures that could deter community events and that conditions attached to licences must be tailored to the specific premises and events.

The report pack includes appendices detailing the application itself, the additional conditions proposed by Environmental Protection, and the relevant representation from a member of the public. The application is being considered under the Licensing Act 2003, which governs the licensing of premises for the supply of alcohol and the provision of regulated entertainment. The Northampton Statement of Licensing Policy 2020-2026 is also a key document for consideration.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The agenda also includes an item regarding the potential exclusion of the press and public from the meeting. This is recommended should members decide that exempt information, as defined under Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, would be disclosed if the public and press were present. The resolution proposed for such an exclusion states that under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part I, Paragraph(s) XXXXX would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The meeting is scheduled to be held remotely via Zoom. The members of the Alcohol & Gambling Licensing Sub-Committee attending are Councillor Nigel Berrill, Councillor Adrian Cartwright, and Councillor Caroline Phillips. Ed Bostock, Democratic Services, is the contact for any queries regarding the agenda.