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Agenda and draft minutes

Licensing Sub-Committee (Licensing Act 2003 Matters) - Monday, 11th May, 2026 2.00 pm

Venue: the Council Chamber - Council Offices, Trinity Road, Cirencester, GL7 1PX. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services 

Media

Items
No. Item

9.

Apologies

To note any apologies.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Dilys Neill and Nick Bridges.

10.

Substitutions

To note any substitutions.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Julia Judd substituted for Councillor Dilys Neill and Councillor Michael Vann substituted for Councillor Nick Bridges.  The Sub-Committee elected Councillor Patrick Coleman to Chair the Sub-Committee hearing.

11.

Declarations of Interests.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members. To receive any declarations of interest from Officers under the Code of Conduct for Officers.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no interests to declare.

12.

Application for New Premises Licence pdf icon PDF 565 KB

Summary      

To determine an application for a new Premises Licence made by Anthropos Experience Ltd, for Existance Festival at Land East Of Boldridge Farm, Crudwell Lane, Long Newnton.

 

Recommendation

That the Licensing Sub-Committee is asked, in light of the representations received, to consider the application and determine whether to:-

  • grant the application as requested.
  • grant the application subject to such conditions that are necessary to promote the licensing objectives.
  • refuse the application in whole or in part where it is necessary in order to promote the licensing objectives.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose of the item was to determine an application for a new Premises Licence made by Anthropos Experience Ltd, for Existance Festival at Land East Of Boldridge Farm, Crudwell Lane, Long Newnton.

 

The Chair introduced the item by stating the four licensing objectives which the Sub-Committee was required to consider in their determination of the application;

 

·         the prevention of crime and disorder;

·         public safety;

·         the prevention of public nuisance;

·         the protection of children from harm.

 

The Licensing Officer introduced the application.  The purpose of the application was for a new premises licence forExistance Festival at Land East of Boldridge Farm, Crudwell Lane, Long Newnton. 

·         The Crime Prevention Team for Gloucestershire Constabulary had logged no objections and the proposed conditions had been accepted by the applicant.

·         The Technical Pollution Team had reviewed the application and noise management plan, and had no objections after agreeing the conditions, which were consulted on with Wiltshire Council's Environmental Protection Department.

·         The Highways Department attended the Safety Advisory Group meeting and remained in ongoing discussions with the applicant.

·         The Water Pollution Team had been in discussion with the applicant. This matter had been raised during the Safety Advisory Group meeting in relation to water provisions for attendees.

 

Members asked questions of the Licensing Officer, who provided the following answers:

·         Multiple agencies from Wiltshire had been present at the Safety Advisory Group meeting, and it was confirmed that cross-border working was taking place.

 

The Licensing Officer introduced the Applicant, who was Sven Mattes, the Festival Director of Existance Festival and Designated Premises Supervisor. The Applicant also introduced Ms Moran, Legal Representative, Daniel Wilde, Festival Promoter and Lead Investor, Chris Selkirk from Sustainable Festivals Limited and Jason Carruthers, Land Ambassador.

 

The Applicant made the following points:

·         Existance Festival had existed for four years, but this was a fresh application submitted by a new legal entity.

·         Mr Mattes was the premises licence holder for a licensed festival site in Hertfordshire with a capacity of 2,000 attendees and had no recorded regulatory issues.

·         Community objections focused primarily around four areas: noise nuisance; traffic nuisance, including concerns around emergency access and parking; the risk of increased crime and disorder; and concerns around the water supply.

·         Issues such as water provision, traffic, parking, and countryside use were planning matters rather than licensing concerns. It was further noted that the Highways and Planning Teams had raised no objection.

·         Environmental Health and Wiltshire Council's Environmental Protection Department had no objections, as the Applicant’s noise management plan was considered sufficient and compliant.

·         The Organisers had strengthened controls after a previous noise issue (linked to contractor failure), appointing experienced new management and planning for worst-case scenarios; noise levels had been assessed at residential façades with windows assumed open.

·         Highways Officers had raised no objection, and the applicant argued traffic and road safety were planning matters; a traffic management plan was in place to address risks on the narrow Crudwell Lane.

·         Traffic management measures included a one-way system, traffic stewards, emergency vehicle access  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

 

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