A bid to host a sound system during Notting Hill Carnival has been refused by Kensington and Chelsea Council's Licensing Sub-Committee. The application for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) at 305 Westbourne Grove was rejected due to significant concerns over public safety and the prevention of crime and disorder.
The committee heard that the proposed event, scheduled for Sunday, August 30 and Monday, August 31, 2026, was for a pop-up sound system
that had not followed the established planning processes for the Notting Hill Carnival.
PC Mark Perry, representing the Metropolitan Police, told the committee that the location on Westbourne Grove, which is on the parade route and near a main crossover point, would pose a significant risk. The risk of crushing and crowd surges and people being trampled on is simply too high,
he stated. He added that the applicant had made no provision for this in their application. They'd not said how they would manage crowds or risk. They'd not say how they would deal with any surges that take place. They had no medical provision, nor did they say how they would deal with any poor behaviour, any social behaviour, how they would communicate with Notting Hill Carnival or the police or anyone else in the event that there was an issue.
Philip Richardson, Principal Environmental Health Officer for the council's Noise and Nuisance Team, echoed these concerns. He highlighted that Westbourne Grove is known for heavy congestion during the carnival and that the TEN would likely exacerbate this, negatively impacting crowd flow. Mr. Richardson also noted that sound system locations are planned months in advance and undergo rigorous risk assessments by independent companies, a process the applicant had not followed. The Kensington and Chelsea Council's Statement of Licensing Policy also recommends that for events within the Notting Hill Carnival 'footprint', TENs should be submitted at least 12 weeks in advance to allow for full discussion and risk assessment.
The established planning processes for the Notting Hill Carnival involve months of planning, with sound system locations decided and placed in advance. These locations undergo rigorous risk assessments by independent companies. The applicant, Mr. Takudzwa Musavengana, failed to engage with these established processes. PC Mark Perry stated, They have not been through the process working with Notting Hill Carnival or with RBKC or police, have not been part of the planning process, which has been on for many months.
Philip Richardson from the Noise and Nuisance Team echoed this, saying, The applicant has not taken part in this process.
Mr. Takudzwa Musavengana, the applicant, arrived late to the hearing and apologised for his delay. He stated that his main concern was the applicant's failure to go through the correct procedure with Notting Hill Carnival Limited for safety and risk assessments, and that the location was not suitable for a sound system.
After considering the representations, the Licensing Sub-Committee, chaired by Councillor Greg Hammond, decided to issue a counter notice, effectively refusing the application. The committee cited the applicant's lack of engagement with established carnival planning processes and the absence of adequate risk assessments and event management plans as key factors in their decision. The committee assesses event applications based on the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. In this specific case, the committee refused the Temporary Event Notice due to significant risks to public safety and the prevention of crime and disorder identified by the objectors, particularly in the context of the densely populated and complex environment of the Notting Hill Carnival.
The potential consequence for the applicant for failing to follow the correct procedures, as demonstrated in this case, is the refusal of their Temporary Event Notice (TEN). PC Mark Perry advised the applicant on the proper procedure
and provided details so that next year they can apply to be a proper legitimate sound system and go through the same procedures and everyone else.
For further details on the meeting, please refer to the Public reports pack and the Agenda frontsheet.
