Agenda item

Consider applications for Occasional Licence (applicants cited to attend) (Copies attached)

Greenlaw Festival                                                                 Marquee

                                                                                                The Green

                                                                                                Greenlaw

                                                                                                Friday 30 June 2017  7.00p.m. – 11.30p.m.

                                                                                                Saturday 1 July 2017 1.00p.m. – 11.30p.m.

                                                                                                Sunday 2 July 2017 1.00p.m. –  4.30p.m.  

Representations received:

Police Scotland – Copies attached.

Licensing Standards Officer – none.

Health – none

Other - none

         (c)  Section 56: Application for Occasional Licence.  The Board considered the following applications for Occasional Licence:-

                   Greenlaw Festival Trust                                     Marquee

                                                                                               The Green

                                                                                               Greenlaw

                                                                                               Friday 30 June 2017 7.00pm - 11.30pm

                                                                                               Saturday 1 July 2017 1.00pm - 11.30pm

                                                                                               Sunday 2 July 2017   1.00pm - 4.30pm

                   There had been circulated copies of:-

                   (a) letters dated 18^th May 2017 from Police Scotland.  Inspector Scott advised that in terms of Section 58(1) (b) (ii) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015, the Police recommended it be granted subject to the conditions as indicated by an ‘x’ on the appendix attached to each of the letters.  Inspector Scott went on to advise that on 30th June 2016, the Greenlaw Festival caused significant anti-social behaviour and disorder, to such an extent that although no Police resources had been dedicated to the event, a sergeant and six officers were deployed from various locations in the Scottish Borders to deal with the ongoing incidents and were required to remain there for the duration of the event.  A summary of the incidents/issues were contained in the letters.  In order to address these issues the organisers had been requested to attend Scottish Borders Council’s Safety Advisory Group, which the Police Scotland Licensing Officer would attend.  In addition to the conditions set out in the appendix to the letters, it was requested that the licensed area be restricted to the marquee where the bar was situated with no Off Sales, which could be appropriately stewarded.

                   On being invited to speak, Mr Tunnah advised that the applications for occasional Licence were for the period 30 June 2017 to 2 July 2017 in respect of the Annual Greenlaw Festival.  He clarified that the applications were for on sale provision only within the Marquee and did not include a defined area outwith or any off sale facility.   Mr Tunnah endorsed the Police opinion that SIA Stewards were required to ensure strict management and controlled access procedures in an attempt to reduce the potential for a recurrence of the issues referred to by Police Scotland the previous year.

                   Mr McGuiness and Mrs Renton, Event Organisers were present.  Mrs Renton explained that the Festival had been running since 1960 and most of the problems experienced the previous year had been due to outsiders coming to the village by minibus.  Mrs Renton further advised that the alcohol listed in the police letter had not been sold by the Organisers.  In terms of the drunk steward, this was a mystery as the Bar Staff had been wearing pink polo shirts and all other Stewards were wearing yellow polo shirts.  Mrs Renton further explained that the Organising Committee had been unaware of any issues regarding their event until they had visited the Council offices to ensure that all the paperwork was in order. They stated they had worked hard to meet all the requirements requested by the Police during their event and Stewards had been patrolling the area stopping people entering the bar area. 

                   DECISION

    AGREED that the applications be granted as follows:-

(a)  30 June and 1 July - subject to the conditions requested by Police Scotland in the Appendix to their letters dated 18 May 2017; and

(b)  2 July – subject to the conditions requested by Police Scotland in the Appendix to their letter dated 18 May 2017 with the exception of Condition 6 thereof.