The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to convene to consider a notice of objection regarding a temporary event at Meanwhile Gardens during the Notting Hill Carnival. The committee was to review the objection and determine whether to issue a counter notice, allow the event to proceed, or impose conditions. The report before the committee concerned a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) submitted by Ms Chandrika Dalpat for the Carnival Oasis event.

Temporary Event Notice: Meanwhile Gardens

Ms Chandrika Dalpat submitted a TEN to permit regulated entertainment at Meanwhile Gardens, Elkstone Road, during the Notting Hill Carnival on Sunday 24 August and Monday 25 August 2025, between 12:00 and 19:00 each day. The application proposed using the lawn space known as the Festival Site, with a maximum of 499 people at any one time. The Temporary Event Notice Meanwhile Redacted included an event management plan, risk assessment, and site plan.

PC Jinelle Caldinez, on behalf of the Metropolitan Police, objected to the TEN based on concerns regarding the prevention of crime and disorder, and public safety. PC Jinelle Caldinez stated that Meanwhile Gardens is located on the main parade route of Notting Hill Carnival, near two sound systems, Love TKO and Sir Valdez.

PC Caldinez explains that Meanwhile Gardens, Elkstone Road, is located directly on the main parade route of Notting Hill Carnival, in close proximity to two sound systems (Love TKO and Sir Valdez). The surrounding area experiences high footfall and congestion during the event. Allowing the proposed activity here is likely to generate queues, restrict crowd movement, and create pinch points, increasing the risk of disorder, crushing, and obstruction of emergency access.

The police were concerned that the location was not part of the official event plan and that sufficient arrangements had not been outlined to control numbers or manage crowd flow.

Ms Chandrika Dalpat responded to the police objection, stating that Meanwhile Gardens Community Association (MGCA) has been an integral part of Notting Hill Carnival for almost 40 years, and that the organisation organises its activities independently, hosting music and cultural activities without a single recorded incident over the years. Ms Chandrika Dalpat stated that MGCA will not be selling alcohol, and outlined crowd control measures in the event management plan.

The Report - Meanwhile Gardens Elkstone Road included extracts from the council's Carnival Policy, a map of the area, a list of licensed premises within the vicinity in Neighbouring Premises, a map of the 2024 Carnival footprint, and a list of temporary event notices received so far for this year's Carnival.

The Licensing Sub Committee was asked to consider the objection notice from the police and take steps to promote the licensing objectives¹. The options available to the sub-committee were to issue a counter notice, take no action, or impose conditions.