The Committee and Scrutiny Support Officer confirmed that the Sub-Committee would comprise Councillors Derbyshire, Watkin and Rogers.

The Sub-Committee was asked to elect a Chair for the Hearing.

RESOLVED –

that Councillor Derbyshire be elected Chair for this Hearing.

There were no disclosures of interest.

Report of the Head of Community and Customer Services.

This report asks the Sub-Committee to consider an application to vary the premises licence following the receipt of representations.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Head of Community and Customer Services setting out details of an application to vary the premises licence for the above premises. 

The Senior Licensing Officer introduced the report.  He explained that the premises was a bar in the town centre.  He referred members to the table on pages 6 – 7 of the agenda that outlined the proposed revised hours for licensable activities being requested by the applicant.  The Applicant was seeking an extension of hours on Fridays and Saturdays, on bank holidays and on Sundays that fell prior to bank holidays - and also in relation to the period the premises could be accessed by children.  Representations had been received concerning late night noise (but not in relation to the selling of alcohol an hour later or the access by children).  The representations were detailed in Appendices ‘5A’ and ‘5B’ on pages 29-31 of the agenda; these suggested that the application would add to the existing noise nuisance.  No other representations had been received.  Members were asked to consider the representations and attach what weight they saw fit to these.  Although the individuals making the representations were not attending the hearing; their representations stood as they were not required to attend.  

The Senior Licensing Officer drew the Sub-Committee’s attention to Annex 3 on page 39 of the agenda (relating to the existing premises licence) requiring the applicant to have a sound limiting device fitted to the music system on the premises.  He then explained that the application fell within Policy LP3 of the council’s statement of licensing policy and advised Members that they were not bound by the policy as it could not cover all eventualities.  Applications had to be dealt with on a case by case basis.  Members had the discretion to depart from the policy but were required to outline the reasons in the Determination Notice if they decided to so exercise their discretion.

The Chair asked if Members had any questions of the Senior Licensing Officer.

Councillor Watkin asked, in relation to the existing licence, why permitted hours on Christmas Day (when falling on a Sunday) were longer than when Christmas Day fell on any other day.  The Senior Licensing Officer explained that this was most likely an error on the premises licence from an historic application.  The Applicant explained that he did not open the premises on Christmas Day.

The Chair asked the Applicant if he had any questions of the Senior Licensing Officer.  He had no questions but advised the Sub-Committee that children would normally not be allowed to stay late on the premises.  Exception to this would only be in attendance at functions.  Patrons would be advised when the children had to leave and a detailed guest list was maintained during functions.

In the absence of any parties making oral representations, the Sub-Committee considered the written representation on pages 29-31 of the agenda.

The Chair asked the Applicant to address the Sub-Committee.

The Applicant explained that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.