BOURNEMOUTH council has been granted a licence to host events on a Southbourne street, despite police saying they were not confident it could easily address any problems.

Representatives of the two organisations were at loggerheads at Thursday’s meeting of the council’s licensing committee with police raising concerns about the terms of the licence and how easily it would be able to manage events.

Despite acknowledging their fears, councillors agreed to grant the licence saying that the council’s proposals were “robust”.

Proposals for a premises licence covering the western end of Southbourne Grove were submitted last month.

The council said the move, if approved, would give it greater flexibility over events held on the road – including Shake and Stir and Frankenfest.

However, Dorset Police objected to the application raising concerns that its proposals would not safely allow the sale of alcohol preferring instead a series of temporary event notices to be required rather than one overarching licence.

Speaking at Thursday’s meeting, its licensing officer, Louise Busfield said: “We don’t have confidence that if the licence was breached that, under these proposals, that something could be done to take action immediately.”

Particular concern was raised that the licence did not require CCTV to be available at events where alcohol was sold which she added acted as “a useful tool” in deterring crime.

However, Jon Weaver, the council’s head of events, said: “We don’t see the solution as being through temporary event notices.

“A premises licence gives us greater control and it is easier for us to stop things straight away if there is a breach.”

Supporting the council’s case, Cllr Blair Crawford said it would, “increasing the vitality and viability” of businesses in the area and that there had been no anti-social behaviour issues at previous events.

Members of the committee agreed to grant the licence saying they were confident events would be organised and run responsibly.

Its chairman, Cllr Andrew Morgan, said: “We note that Dorset Police is not happy and that they feel the premises licence is not sufficiently robust.

“On balance, however, we feel that the process is robust enough and if something happened which we were not happy with, a licence review could be carried out.”

Councillors agreed to grant the licence but added in conditions limiting it to 10 ‘alcohol days’ per year and requiring the council to have someone immediately available should issues arise at any event.