Agenda and minutes

To note any changes in membership of the Committee made in accordance with Part 4B paragraph 5 of the council’s Constitution.

Due to the recent resignation of Cllr Pitcher from the Committee, Cllr Ward attended as the third member of the Sub-Committee and Cllr Bacon was elected Chairman for the day.

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2023..

RESOLVED:

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2023 be approved.

To invite Members to declare any interest they might have in the matters on the agenda.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

To consider any matters which, in the Chairman’s opinion, are urgent.

There was no Urgent Business.

The Senior Licensing Officer summarised the application and explained that there had been five representations received relating to one or more of the four licensing objectives. The concerns raised were the potential for crime and disorder and obstruction from people congregating outside the premises, and the potential for noise nuisance from customers. The applicant had responded to each of the objections.

Environmental Health had raised no adverse comment. Conditions had been agreed with the police which would be added to the licence if granted.

The applicant presented their case and explained that to maximise their income during a difficult time they wished to be able to sell a small quantity of alcohol until 4pm only, and until 8.30pm during a few special events. They further explained that with no cellar facility, alcohol would be wine, spirits and bottled beer only, to be sold alongside food. The clientele was mainly middle age/retired persons and there would be no drinking or smoking outside the premises, although in the future they may apply for a small table outside to enable people to sit outside on warmer days.

The applicant had managed a local pub/restaurant for seven years and was currently the manager of another nearby pub with his partner where they were well respected by local residents. Both had held personal licences for 10 years.

Two of the objectors were present and expanded on their representations. The Town Council were not satisfied at the responses which had been provided by the applicant and still had concerns over the extended hours applied for. Conditions were requested regarding external seating and the restriction of alcohol to inside the premises and assurance as to the enforcement of any licence conditions. Another neighbour was concerned over noise from the premises and smells from cooking, and what the future would hold regarding the potential rental of the upstairs flat.

Advice was given that any planning restrictions were not relevant to the application, and that anything contained in the lease or relating to poor sound insultation were private matter between the landlord and tenants and would not prevent the licence from being granted.

Clarification was given that enforcement would be carried out by Licensing Officers and Environmental health Officers would deal with any complaints of noise. Objectors were also reminded of the facility to call for review of the licence at any time.

The Sub Committee were reminded that the application must be considered on its own merits and that their decision must be evidence based. The recommendation was for the licence to be granted subject to the conditions proposed in the application and those agreed with the police.

The Sub Committee retired to private session to consider their decision, and upon reconvening it was

RESOLVED:

To grant the licence in accordance with the application, subject to those conditions proposed by the applicant within the operating schedule, and also subject to the mandatory conditions specified in the Licensing Act 2003, but modified to such an extent as members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.