Agenda and draft minutes

To appoint a Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the meeting.

Councillor B. Fitzsimon was appointed Chairman of the Sub-Committee.

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) considering an application for a variation of an existing premises licence for this public house.

Introduction and Procedures

The purpose of the meeting was to consider an application which had been received from Gosschalks solicitors on behalf of the premises licence holder EI Group Plc under the Licensing Act 2003 for variation of an existing premises licence for the Hope & Anchor, Welham Green to extend the times for the Live Music, Recorded Music, Sale of Alcohol and Opening Times and to remove a condition restricting the number of events held each year.

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting and introduced the Members of the Sub-Committee, the Police, Environmental Health Officer and the Officers serving the Sub-Committee, explained the hearings procedure which had been adopted by the Council, copies of which had previously been circulated.

The Licence holder’s representative and those in attendance confirmed their identity to the Sub-Committee.

Documentary Evidence

A copy of the Licensing Officer’s report, the premises licence, application for the variation of the Hope & Anchor’s premise Licence; together with the site location map had previously been circulated.  Also included were the conditions agreed by the Environmental Health Officer and representations received (confidential).

Report of the Licensing Officer

The Licensing Officer presented his report which contained the application for the variation of the Hope & Anchor’s premise Licence – PA29562/11/102019 licence which had been in force since 15 November 2005.  The premises licence was granted at a licensing hearing held to determine an application from the premises licence holder at that time to convert and vary a premises licence issued under the old 1964 Licensing Act.

The Licensing Officer stated that if the Committee were mindful to grant the variation, the last agreed condition between the applicants and the Environmental Health Officer relating to noise being inaudible is a condition that Licensing could not enforce as it has no clear definition in law.

The Sub-Committee noted that the premises licence holder took over the licence in February 2019. The current designated premises holder Mr Adam Wyett took over in September 2019 and has run a number of Soul Nights at the premises at weekends.

The report noted that The Hope and Anchor is surrounded by houses on all four sides, some quite close and as a result there had been some noise issues over the years when events have been held, hence at the previous licensing hearing restrictions were put on the licence hours and the number of events that could be held.

Applicant

There were representations from responsible authorities, Parish and Ward Councillors and residents.

The Applicant’s representative Mr Taylor from Gosschalks Solicitors spoke on behalf of Mr Bush and Mr A Wyett.  He advised that the conditions had been inherited from the previous license holder.  Mr Taylor stated that his clients wanted to provide a community pub and that they had been holding events at the premises under Temporary Event Notices and trading until 1am.  The application was being presented for an extension for the pub to remain open until 2am on Thursday, Friday/Saturdays, with Sunday operating hours being 10.00  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.