Agenda and draft minutes

To appoint a Chairman for the meeting.

It was proposed and seconded by Councillors B Sarson and R. Grewal.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Julie Cragg be appointed Chair of the meeting.

To note declarations of Members’ disclosable pecuniary interests, non-disclosable pecuniary interests and non-pecuniary interests in respect of items on the Agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the report of the Licensing Officer.

Introduction and Procedure

An application has been received from John Gaunt & Partners on behalf of the premises licence holder Marston’s PLC under the Licensing Act 2003 for a variation to the premises licence. The variation is to extend the premises sale/supply of alcohol and regulated entertainment hours on Fridays and Saturdays to 10:00 – 02:30, late-night refreshment Fridays and Saturdays to 23:00 – 02:30 with an extension to premises opening hours Friday - Saturday to 07:00 - 03:00. The applicant is in line with legislation by displaying Blue Notices at the Premises on the 29th December 2023 and advertised the application in the Welwyn Hatfield Times on the 10th January 2024, the Public register was updated and placed on the Councils website and all the Responsible Authorities, Parish Councils and Councillors were notified.

The Licence Hearing is as a result of the Licensing Authority receiving a formal written relevant representation against the application from Hertfordshire Police. The representation to the application has been submitted under the Licensing Act 2003 on the statutory grounds of:

·        Prevention of Crime and Disorder

·        Prevention of Public Nuisance

Documentary Evidence:

The report of the licensing officer, the application and supporting documents, along with written representations from the relevant authorities which had been previously circulated.

Report of the Licensing Officer

The application submitted is for the variation of a premise licence by John Gaunt & Partners on behalf of the premises licence holder Marston’s PLC for The Bakehouse, Bessemer Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1HH. The premises is located on the fringe of Welwyn Garden City Town Centre and at the crossroads of Bessemer Road, Bridge Road, Bridge Road East and Broadwater Road.

The variation application submitted is seeking to extend the premises sale of alcohol hours and regulated entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 – 01:00 to 10:00 – 02:30, late-night refreshment from 23:00 – 01:00 to 23:00 – 02:30 with an extension to premises opening hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 07:00 – 01:30 to 07:00 - 03:00.

In determining the variation application, the sub-committee may on behalf of the licensing

authority, and having regard to the promotion of the licensing objectives, statute,

guidance and the Council’s own licensing policies decide on the following courses of

action:

a)     To grant the variation of the licence as proposed.

b)     To modify the conditions of the licence by altering or omitting or adding to them.

c)     To exclude any of the licensable activities to which the application relates.

d)     To refuse to specify a person in the licence as the designated premises supervisor.

e)     To reject the whole of the application or part of it.            

Representation from the Police, Welwyn Hatfield Constabulary

Alex Kettle-Stupka referenced his written representation regarding the application for variation of a premises license and addressed the sub-committee as follows:

-        Police were called on 4 of the 6 TEN’s dates which does not demonstrate the ability to operate late without compromising the Licensing objectives.

-        This venue is situated on the edge  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.