Agenda item

We considered an application for a temporary premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003 from Devauden Festival, Devauden Hall, Devauden on the 23^rd January 2025 for the following:

https://www.youtube.com/live/699pNkEDJJ8?si=HqPAvXYJMS8N7DsL&t=58

The Chair welcomed the applicants to the meeting and introduced Members of the Sub Committee and the attending Officers and explained the protocol for the meeting.

The applicants confirmed their name and address to the Sub Committee. The applicants confirmed receipt of the report and hearing procedure and acknowledged that they would proceed without legal representation.

The key issues and details were read out to the Sub Committee. 

The objectors had provided written evidence but were not present at the meeting.  Two local residents presented concerns that granting the licence would result in an in increase in incidences of gatecrashing and illegal drug use as a result of inadequate monitoring of the large perimeter; an increase in burglaries and drunken, disorderly behaviour;  an increase in traffic on unsuitable roads with limited visibility; an increase in raw sewage; and an increase in noise nuisance disturbance in a rural location with residential properties nearby. Concern was also raised that the festival was an unsuitable environment for young children. No supporting evidence was provided to substantiate these concerns. It was also noted that traffic management issues did not fall within the remit of the Licensing and Regulatory Sub Committee meeting.

The applicants were then given the opportunity to address the Sub Committee, to put forward any relevant explanations. Following this, Members of the Sub Committee put forward questions to the applicants and discussion ensued. The applicants were then given the opportunity to sum up.

Following questioning, the Licensing and Regulatory Sub Committee Members and the Monmouthshire County Council Solicitor left the meeting to deliberate and discuss the findings.

Upon re-commencement, the Chair and Monmouthshire Solicitor advised that the Sub Committee had granted a temporary premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003 for Devauden Festival, Upper Meend Farm, Penalt, Monmouth, for the following during the period: The evening of Friday 23^rd May 2025, and all day on Saturday 24^th and Sunday 25^th May 2025, and in respect of opening hours, Monday 26^th May 2025.

In addition to the above, the Sub-committee resolved that the matters listed in the Operating Schedule of the applicant’s application, and the conditions proposed by the Police and Environmental Health, be incorporated as conditions on the licence.