Agenda item

The Committee is asked to:

Event (see 3c):  Approve permission to be given for the 2017 Team Love proposed music concert at The Downs Sea walls location subject to a site fee and date being agreed, as recommended by the Events Sub Group (Appendix A).

Management Plan (see 4d): Approve that the plan be circulated to the management plan sub group for comment before being sent to full Downs Committee in April for approval to then go to public consultation.

Victoria Holden, Melissa Inman and Sarah Tyler introduced the report and summarised it for everyone.

It was noted that revised Fees and Charges have been agreed with effect from 1^st April 2017. When setting Fees and Charges for any events there is a need to be mindful of what the market will bear. The Events Team is well aware of the Downs Committee’s wish to maximise income from all events especially one as large as the Music Event applied for by Team Love.

It was noted that the Sea Walls is the best location for the Music Event as the drainage is good and there is less disruption to residents.

Although concerns were raised about noise levels at the Music Event that took place in September 2016, it was noted that the permitted level of 70 dbs had not been exceeded during the Event. It was suggested that the possibility of reducing the noise level to 65dbs be explored with Team Love and this was agreed.

Councillor Abraham raised a number of concerns about the Events Sub Group’s recommendation to approve the application - including the applicant being in attendance at the Meeting on 21^st December 2016, noise levels, the location of the Event, the image it projects of the Downs and the disruption caused before and after the Event - and felt that the Committee should reject the application. It was noted however that although Councillor Abraham had attended the Meeting of the Events Sub Group on 21^st December 2016, he had not made these concerns known at the Meeting.

It was noted that the number of letters of support for last year’s event from local residents exceeded the number of letters of protest from local residents about the event.

The Committee, whilst noting the concerns of the residents, accepted the recommendation of the Events Sub Group. The Committee was satisfied that the Sea Walls is the most appropriate location for the Event, that the prescribed noise levels were not exceeded at last year’s event (but was happy to explore the possibility of the level being reduced to 65 dbs), noted that acoustic adjustments would be made to benefit the residents of Seawalls Road and that there was a lot of support for the event. The Committee also noted that any permission it gives for the event is subject to the applicants obtaining a Licence from the Licensing Authority.

Resolved – (1) Event (see 3c):  that permission to be given for the 2017 Team Love proposed music concert at The Downs Sea Walls location subject to a site fee and date being agreed - as recommended by the Events Sub Group (Appendix A), and the possibility of reducing the noise level to 65dbs being explored with Team Love;

(Councillor Abraham voted against this resolution);

and

(2) Management Plan (see 4d): that the plan be circulated to the management plan sub group for comment before being sent to full Downs Committee in April for approval to then go to public consultation.