Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Shiel was appointed Chair for this meeting.

Councillors are reminded of the need to declare personal and prejudicial interests, including the nature and extent of such interests, in relation to business on the agenda, before any discussion takes place on the item. Councillors requiring clarification should seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer prior to the day of the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made by Members.

To consider the report of the Head of Environmental Health Services.

(Report circulated)

In attendance for the applicant were:-

Mr Ali Anvari                            : Owner, EX4

Mr Stephen Nash                    : General Manager, EX4

Mr Louis Veddick                     : Event Promoter

Representing the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary:-

Ms Lesley Carlo          : Licensing Officer

Sergeant Neil Harvey 

The Chairman introduced the Sub-Committee Members and Officers.

The Licensing Solicitor reported that an application for a Temporary Events Notice had been received in respect of EX4 for an “After Party” between 02.30hours and 06.00hours on Monday 13 April 2009. She explained the timescale and procedure for the consideration of the application.

Representing the Applicant

Mr Nash advised that the application was for an After Party event between 02.30hours and 06.00hours for which tickets would be sold at the Arena nightclub in Summerland Street. A dance DJ had been engaged for the Arena and it was proposed to sell no more than 180 tickets to the Arena clientele for the party. In response to the Chair, Mr Nash advised that the event would be carefully monitored with only those buying tickets at the Arena eligible to enter EX4.

Mr Veddick introduced himself as a promoter of dance events which he had been doing since the age of 16. The Arena bar would shut at 02.30hours, the club closing at 03.00hours with only 180 of the total of 500-600 attending Arena that night able to buy the tickets. Dance events of this nature had a loyal following and he anticipated that clientele would be attracted from as far as Plymouth, Torbay and Honiton with some likely to come from further afield given that he had successfully organised events of this nature in East Anglia. The advantage of holding the event into the early hours would encourage people not to use cars therefore reducing possible drink drive incidents. Public transport would be available shortly after the event finished. In response to the Solicitor. Mr Veddick advised that the total tickets sold included those sold to Arena staff, those employed by the event organiser and the DJ and support as the maximum capacity of the room to be used at the EX4 venue was 180.

In response to Councillor Sterry, Mr Veddick advised that the tickets at Arena would be sold on a first come first served basis and would not be sold on line. Mr Veddick suggested that those who may consume too much alcohol at the Arena may be reluctant to walk down to Fore Street. The event at the Arena was the first event of its kind and would be good for the culture of Exeter. He compared the proposed operation to similar club events held in Essex and Norwich. In the latter City, the University had been used as the original venue with the after party held at a City Centre venue in an area similar to Fore Street.

Questions from the Police

Lesley Carlo : Will tickets be sold on line ?

Mr Veddick : Although the main event at Arena would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.