Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman of this meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED that Councillor Flagg be elected Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the duration of the meeting.

Voting: Unanimous

To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

No apologies have been received on this occasion.

Councillors are required to comply with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 regarding disclosable pecuniary interests. Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

There were no declarations received on this occasion.

The Council is required by the Licensing Act 2003 to hold a hearing when there are representations in respect of a premises licence application and determine whether to grant the licence. 

The Chairman opened the meeting, made introductions and explained the procedure for the hearing.

The Licensing Act 2003 requires the council as the Licensing Authority to issue premises licences. Where there are representations to an application for a premises licence the council must hold a hearing to consider those representations and decide whether to grant a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003.

The Sub-Committee were asked to consider the Premises Licence application for:

·        the supply of alcohol both on and off the premises between 0900 and 2300hrs Sunday to Wednesday, 0900 to 2400hrs on Thursdays and 0900 to 0100hrs Fridays and Saturdays

·        recorded music that is either unamplified or only played through the in-house background music system between 0900 and 2300hrs Sunday to Wednesday, 0900 to 2400hrs on Thursdays and 0900 to 0100hrs Fridays and Saturdays

·        late night refreshment indoors between 2300 and 2400 on Thursdays and 2300 to 0100 Fridays and Saturdays

·        opening hours of the premises are 0900 to 2300hrs Sunday to Wednesday, 0900 to 2400hrs on Thursdays and 0900 to 0100hrs Fridays and Saturdays

The Public Health and Protection Manager presented a report, which summarised the details of the application, as set out in Agenda Item 4, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member of the Sub-Committee and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. The application had resulted in representations from 10 other persons under some or all of the prevention of public nuisance, the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and the prevention of children from harm licensing objectives

Following the publication of the report, additional information had been submitted by   two of the other persons and circulated to all parties including Members of the Sub Committee. The Applicant did respond to this additional information and this was circulated to Members of the Sub-Committee and Town Councillor Tarling, on behalf of Mr Peter Fenning and Jane Parkinson who had indicated they wished to speak at the hearing.

In response to a question from a Councillor, the Public Health and Protection Manager confirmed that since the premises had been operating under Temporary Event Notices (TEN) there had not been any complaints regarding the operation.  He also confirmed that the Planning Section had advised that the applicant had complied with the Planning Conditions set out on the Planning Permission dated 22/3/19 in respect to Waste Management and Acoustics.

The following persons attended the Sub Committee and gave verbal evidence based on their written submissions:

On behalf of the Applicant:

·     Sandra Graham – Solicitor representing the applicant Toms Event Bars Ltd

·     Tom Owen   – Director and owner of the premises

·     Suze Owen – Wife of Tom Owen

In objection:

·     Town Councillor Tarling, on behalf of Mr Peter Fenning

·     Jane Parkinson – owner of flat in the same building as the premises

Councillors asked questions of those making representations, heard details of the smoking policy and waste management policy. All parties were then able to sum  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.