The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to convene to address declarations of interest, potential late business, and a premises licence application for Beck Evans Farm in Sidcup. The primary focus was to be on an application for a premises licence, specifically concerning an event known as BecksFest.

Premises Licence Application: Beck Evans Farm

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application by Beck Evans Farm Limited for a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003. The application pertained to premises at Beck Evans Farm (Mid Field), Water Lane, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 5ET.

The application had been amended to focus solely on the BecksFest event, proposed for Saturday 5 July and Sunday 6 July 2025. The report pack indicated that the applicant, Mr Daniel Evans, sought permission for:

• Regulated entertainment, including live and recorded music, and dance performances, scheduled for:

  • Saturday, 5 July 2025, from 10:00 hours to 22:00 hours
  • Sunday, 6 July 2025, from 10:00 hours to 21:00 hours

• Retail sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises:

  • Saturday, 5 July 2025, from 10:00 hours to 22:00 hours
  • Sunday, 6 July 2025, from 10:00 hours to 21:00 hours

• Opening hours of the premises:

  • Saturday, 5 July 2025, from 10:00 hours to 22:30 hours
  • Sunday, 6 July 2025, from 10:00 hours to 21:30 hours

The report pack noted that representations had been received from responsible authorities, including the police, the licensing authority, and the Environmental Health Service, as well as from 10 other individuals.

Representations Received

Ten individuals had submitted representations against the application, which were included in the report pack as Appendix C.

The Police, Licensing Authority, and Environmental Health Service also submitted representations, detailed in Appendix D.

The applicant's response to these representations, along with supporting documents, was included as Appendix E.

Concerns Raised in Representations

The representations highlighted several concerns, including:

• Public Nuisance: Residents expressed fears about noise pollution from amplified music and late-night events. One representation quoted Centreforce Radio & Pineapple advertising BecksFest with LOUD MUSIC (house, garage and club anthems) ALL WEEKEND.
• Public Safety: Concerns were raised regarding crowd management, emergency access, and the safety of access routes, particularly in relation to the nearby River Cray and woodland areas.
• Protection of Children from Harm: The suitability of the event for children was questioned, with concerns raised about potential exposure to inappropriate behaviour, drug use, and alcohol consumption.
• Planning and Licensing Conflicts: The Planning Department noted that the site was subject to a High Court Injunction Order prohibiting development without planning permission, a certificate of lawfulness or written approval from the Head of Planning and Regulation. They further noted that the proposed licence, including outdoor music and alcohol sales until 23:30, was potentially incompatible with existing planning conditions designed to protect nearby residential amenities.
• Cumulative Impact: Some representations argued that the cumulative impact of multiple events at the farm was detrimental to the local community, particularly elderly residents.

Applicant's Position

The applicant's representative amended the application to focus solely on the BecksFest event on 5 and 6 July 2025. The applicant also submitted an event management plan, noise management plan, and traffic management plan to address the concerns raised.

Relevant Considerations

The report pack outlined the legal framework for the sub-committee's decision-making, including the four licensing objectives outlined in the Licensing Act 2003¹:

• Prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• Prevention of public nuisance
• Protection of children from harm

The sub-committee was also directed to consider Bexley Council's Statement of Licensing Policy and guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003.

Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

At the start of the meeting, Councillors John Davey, Anna Day and Mrs June Slaughter were scheduled to declare any personal or pecuniary interests they might have had regarding items on the agenda. The report pack included guidance for members on declaring interests, in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972 and The Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012.

Items of Late Business

The agenda allowed for consideration of urgent items not included in the original agenda, subject to the Chairman's discretion.