Agenda item

Before the meeting started the committee were advised by the officers to discard the report in the agenda due to several errors and a revised report was circulated.

D Ryder explained that the council had received a planning application for the use of a camp site at Brownlow Farm Barns, Pouchen End Lane, Hemel Hempstead. She said Environmental Health were consulted on the application as the council does not have a licence in place for camp sites so the officers had prepared a proposed set of standard licence conditions for the committee to discuss and approve after consulting other local authority conditions. These conditions would be used for any camp site application in the borough and not just for this application.

D Ryder gave background on the application stating that there were 3 tepees to be used for relaxation and studying Native American arts.

Councillor Bassadone asked if the tepees were large. D Ryder confirmed they were large and said they could accommodate approximately ten individuals in each tepee.

Several members of the committee expressed concerns about various points within the licensing conditions. The Chairman suggested that the officers rewrite the conditions incorporating the councillors comments and return to the committee with a new set of conditions. He asked members to highlight the particular areas of concern.

Councillor Mills referred to section H, paragraph vii and felt that 3 deep sinks per pitch was too many.

Councillor Taylor said the mathematics didn’t add up and the document was very confusing. He suggested they needed to either use acres or hectares in the density and spacing section of the conditions as using both would cause confusion.

Following a short discussion on the matter, the committee agreed with the officers that they would change the condition to ‘site density should not exceed 60 pitches per hectare’.

Councillor Mills didn’t feel that there were enough toilets being proposed. He felt that a dozen would be more appropriate.

Councillor Fantham said the water supply and waste disposal section was not specific and needed clarifying.

Councillor Taylor said it was an ill prepared document that needed to be rewritten.

Councillor Adshead referred to section 1 on page 4 and expressed concern that a three metre wide area may not be wide enough.

Councillor Peter asked if there was any legislation on alcohol consumption. T Cawthorne said it depended on the situation because if the campsite was someone’s home then it would be the same as anyone else consuming alcohol in their home. He explained that they would need to apply for a licence if anyone intended to sell alcohol on site or if they were planning an event on the land that would require a temporary events licence. He added that any applicant should consult licencing department for clarity.

Councillor Bassadone asked if the officers were aware of an unofficial site at Bunkers Park in Bunkers Lane. T Cawthorne said they weren’t aware of it but if they were informed of any problems they would investigate. He asked members to let him know if there was any nuisance behaviour. Councillors Bassadone and R Sutton said they would speak to him once the meeting had finished.

Councillor Fantham suggested the officers could liaise with local scout groups to identify what legislation they’re covered by and consult with them to help assemble our conditions.

Councillor Bassadone suggested they contact the Boys Brigade in Felden too.

Councillor Howard advised that legislation to cover children’s toilet facilities would differ from adults.

Councillor Peter asked if the Police could intervene if alcohol was on the premises. Councillor Mills said people would have alcohol on site at caravan parks and that didn’t cause a problem so he didn’t see the need to include that in the conditions. Councillor Peter explained that Police would be called to a site if there were any problems or disturbance so he felt they should plan ahead and put the facility in place.

Agreed:

The Committee unanimously agreed that the officers should rewrite the licence conditions taking in to account their comments and concerns and return to the committee in the New Year.