Statement of Licensing Policy (2008) WCC - Westminster City Council

Reasons for Policies PVC 1 & PVC22.5.29 The council welcomes the vital contribution that theatres, cinemas, concert halls andother performance venues make in providing the diverse cultural and entertainmentthat attracts people of all ages into Westminster, and maintains its status as a worldclass city. The council as the Licensing Authority accepts that these types of usesare unlikely to be linked with crime and disorder, and generally have less impact onresidents than other licensable activities . The substitution of these types of uses in theStress Areas in place of pubs,bars and alcohol led music and dance venues will belikely to promote the licensing objectives.2.5.30 Westminster contains a number of well-known traditional clubs and other clubs thatwill be Qualifying Clubs (see Glossary). Through their membership controls, qualifyingclubs have little association with crime and disorder and public nuisance.2.5.31 Performance venues will be subject to conditions on public safety related to thestaging of special effects and the exhibition of fi lm is subject to mandatory conditionson the admittance of children.2.5.32 Outdoor spaces where licensable activities take place are defi ned as “premises”under the Licensing Act 2003. The Royal Parks Agency and its predecessors havefor many years hosted and facilitated a wide range of nationally signifi cant musicaland other events. The Mayor has similarly organised events in Trafalgar Squareoften focussing on the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of London. There have beenproposals at Lords Cricket ground for licensable activities. The council itself has aprogramme of smaller events in its parks with occasional larger events over widerareas . There are other occasional events in squares. The range and diversity of theseevents may make it desirable to have provisions in the licence for a specifi c “eventplan” to be agreed for each event rather than to rely solely on conditions within thepremises license.2.5.33 Some of these events because of their prominence attract very large crowds. Soundfrom outdoor events is not enclosed and carries across the city and therefore maycause widespread nuisance. The British climate dictates that most proposals aremade in the summer months. The extent and frequency of these events in relation tothe areas where the impact is felt will be considered in determining applications forpremises licences for outdoor licensable activities, and the imposed conditions willrefl ect this.62