Agenda and minutes

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2018 were confirmed by the members present and then signed by the Chairman.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interests.

The Sub-Committee were required to consider an application for 14 individual events, for which Temporary Event Notices (TENS) have been submitted for the following premises:

Woodland Weddings

Wick Wood,

Wick Road

Hastoe

Nr Tring

Herts

The Chairman introduced herself, the members on the sub-committee and the officers present.

Alison Pryor asked that as one of her applicants, Faye Messenger, was 40 weeks pregnant and was, in fact, being induced the very next day whether short breaks could be taken if necessary.

The Chairman and members agreed that short breaks could be taken.

The Chairman asked the members of the sub-committee to confirm that they had read the agenda. The members of the committee confirmed they had.

The Chairman noted that some papers had been submitted at very short notice and that those papers had not been read as thoroughly due to lack of time and that it was hoped that this would not happen in the future.

Alison Pryor noted that papers had been submitted the previous day along with guidance about providing paper copies to members. She continued that she had only received objections at 17:45 the previous evening and that she had been making her own submissions ‘blindfolded’ and had made reference to not being sure about concerns.

The Chairman asked why objections were made late.

P O’Day said that they had been submitted within 3 days on 2 April and that more information was later added to provide more clarity. He continued that Temporary Event Notices (TENs) have a very short timetable.

Alison Pryor added that she had received no detail and that separately, in correspondence with her and Cartwright King Solicitors a meeting had been set for 30 April to discuss concerns. She continued that she had hoped, especially with Faye Messenger’s pregnancy that the meeting would have been sooner rather than later, and certainly before the sub-committee meeting.

P O’Day said that he had been out of the country and that the meeting had been arranged in his absence and that these concerned two separate matters with a degree of overlap. He continued that the Council had complaints from 2016, 2017 and 2018 and that he agreed that it would have been wise to have that meeting before this meeting.

Alison Pryor referred to the letter which provided the Notice of objection to Temporary Event Notice and drew attention to the Specific objection / representation which read: ‘During the course of investigations last year (2018) Council officers are satisfied that the activity of woodland weddings amount to a statutory nuisance and is likely to recur’. She noted that this did not assist with particulars and that it was regrettable that detail only became clearer at 17:45 the previous day.

The Chairman asked N March if the legal requirements had been complied with and N March confirmed they had.

The Chairman asked N March if he had anything to add to the report.

The Chairman invited N March to address the sub-committee.

N March said that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.