Agenda and draft minutes

To appoint a Chairman for the meeting.

Councillors Sarson and Jones moved and seconded the nomination for Councillor Cragg to chair 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.

No declarations of interest were received.

Introduction and Procedure

The purpose of the meeting was to consider a variation of a premises licence application from Queenswood School.

The applicant is in line with legislation by displaying Blue Notices at the Premises on the 13^th March 2025 and advertised the application in the Welwyn Hatfield Times on the 19^th March 2025 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 because of the Licensing Authority receiving a formal written relevant representation against the application from Hertfordshire Public Health which remains outstanding. The representation to the application has been submitted under the Licensing Act 2003 on the statutory ground of protection of children from harm.

Report of the Licensing Officer

The Licensing Officer presented the report.

The application was received Stephanie Hall, Head of Catering and Lettings at Queenswood School on behalf of the premises licence holder Queenswood School Ltd under the Licensing Act 2003 for a variation to the premises licence.

The variation was to remove mandatory condition 1, remove condition 4, amend mandatory condition 3 and remove conditions 1-3 from Annex 2. 

The school was seeking the removal and amendment to conditions on the existing premises licence as the premises find the current licence restrictive. The school were seeking removal of mandatory condition 1 as part of a new educational scheme which would include the introduction of a school social event club where students aged 16–18 years old (who are pre-registered with the school as part of the scheme and have their parent/guardian’s permission to be part of the scheme) could be served a maximum of 2 glasses of beer, wine or cider (not including spirits) with a meal at a school social event. The sale of alcohol would be with the student’s parent/guardian so no sale of alcohol to students would take place at social club events. The school are proposing additional added controls as part of the scheme which can be found in the agenda pack.

Queenswood School held a Christmas Event in December 2024 where the proposed School social event club was tested under a Temporary Event Notice. Planning information and feedback from students in relation to this event has been submitted by Queenswood School as part of the variation application.

A number of additional policies have been received as supporting documents

It was highlighted that in determining the application the Sub-Committee must take account of the council’s duty to promote the statutory licensing objectives namely:

A) The prevention of Crime and Disorder

B) Public Safety

C) The Prevention of Public Nuisance

D) The Protection of children from harm.

In determining the application, the sub-committee may on behalf of the licensing authority, and having regard to the promotion of the licensing objectives, statute, guidance and policy decide on the following courses of action: 

a)    To grant the licence as proposed

b)    To modify the conditions of the licence by altering or omitting or adding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.