Skip to main content

Agenda item

Notting Hill Carnival Approach and Temporary Event Notices

Report of the Director of Public Protection and Licensing.

Minutes:

6.1       The item was introduced by David Sycamore, Licensing Team Manager.  He made the point that there had been feedback from the Committee at the previous meeting in November regarding the Notting Hill Carnival Temporary Event Notices that had been brought before the Licensing Sub-Committee in 2017.  An internal process had now been established so that officers would be well versed on their approach to these TENs in the event they reached the Sub-Committee.  Mr Sycamore drew Members’ attention to the fact that as part of the consultation process this year, the Events and Filming Team were producing a best practice guide for operators at the Carnival that would include a licensing update.  The update would request submission of TENs as early as possible.             

 

6.2       Mr Sycamore advised that the Licensing Service would be engaging with stakeholders from April 2018 and would expect to receive a robust event management plan from them.  The Licensing Service and the Events and Filming Team would be available to assist them in achieving this.  The primary reason for this urgency was to resolve any issues relating to the crowd dynamics.           

 

6.3       Mr Sycamore explained that one of the notable changes that would potentially take place at the Carnival in 2018 was the receipt of more TENs in St Luke’s Road.  This was on the border of Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea.  One of the outcomes from a previous review was that in order to improve the crowd dynamics, Westminster would potentially have demand from operators who had previously been located in Kensington and Chelsea.

 

6.4       Mr Sycamore also mentioned that the Licensing Service would be engaging in April with one of the sound systems operators to inform them that it was not appropriate for them to submit a TEN and seek a capacity of 499 people.  They would be required to apply for a premises licence and the Licensing Service would offer them support, including in terms of producing their management plan.

 

6.5       The Chair asked Mr Sycamore whether there had been any issues arising from the TENs which had been permitted at the Carnival in 2017.  Mr Sycamore replied that the feedback received from licensing officers and the Police was that only one of the operators, the sound system, had proven that it was no longer appropriate for them to have a TEN.  The earlier engagement with operators in 2017 than in previous years had assisted.

 

6.6       Councillor Caplan recommended that it was set out in writing to those requesting TENs that if the application was opposed by Environmental Health or the Police, the Sub-Committee only had the power to accept the TEN or refuse it.  There was no process of negotiation permitted at Licensing Sub-Committee hearings.  Mr Sycamore responded that this would be included in the licensing guidance document.

 

6.7       In response to a question from Councillor Burbridge, Ms Sutton advised that she had overall shared responsibility for the Council’s approach to the Carnival along with Richard Gibson, Head of City Promotions, Events and Filming. 

 

6.8       RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted.

 

 

Supporting documents: