Agenda and minutes

The Democratic Services Officer producing the meeting formally commenced the meeting and jointly welcomed all present and those externally viewing the Licensing & Regulatory Sub-Committee.

A number of housekeeping matters and remote meeting guidance were highlighted to all.

No apologies for absence were received. 

The Democratic Services Officer advised the meeting that Councillor Karen Soons had withdrawn from sitting on the Sub-Committee after having become aware that she was a close acquaintance with the family of one of the members of the public who had made representations.

Accordingly, Councillor Roger Dicker had been appointed in her place.

Any member who is substituting for another member should so indicate, together with the name of the relevant absent member.

No substitutions were declared.

The Democratic Services Officer verbally outlined all Members of the Committee who were present together with the names of the Officers supporting the meeting.

To seek nominations for the election of Chair for this sub-committee meeting.

It was unanimously

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Pat Hanlon be elected as Chair.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary or local non pecuniary interest which they have in any item of business on the agenda, no later than when that item is reached and, when appropriate, to leave the meeting prior to discussion and voting on the item.

Members’ declarations of interest are recorded under the item to which the declaration relates.

Report No: LSC/WS/20/003

(Councillor Patrick Chung declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item, in that he had been acquainted with one of the members of the public who had made representation over 12 years ago, when the individual in question acted as a Conservative Party agent in Bury St Edmunds. Councillor Chung had had no contact with the individual since this time and would therefore take part in the determination of this item.

Councillor Roger Dicker also declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item, in that he was acquainted with an employee of Chestnut Inns Ltd (the applicant) purely by way of the individual being a patron at the shop/Post Office he operated in Kennett.  He would continue to take part in the determination of the item.)

The Chair welcomed all present to the Hearing and introductions to the Panel were made.

The following parties were present at the Hearing:

(a)         Applicant

(i)      Henry Fairbanks, Chief Operating Officer, Chestnut Inns Ltd

(ii)     James Daley, Group Operations Manager, Chestnut Inns Ltd

The Licensing Officer presented the report which explained that an application had been received for the Variation of a Premises Licence in respect of The Northgate, 13-14 Northgate Street, Bury St Edmunds.  A copy of the application was attached at Appendix 1 to Report No LSC/WS/20/003 together with plans at Appendix 2.

The application, made by Chestnut Inns Ltd, sought to amend the following conditions imposed on the current licence, namely:

Annex 3 - Conditions attached after a hearing by the licensing authority

1.       The outside areas are to be vacated by 9.00pm every evening.

Approval was sought to amend this to 10.00pm every evening

2.       No tents or marquees are to be erected in the outside area.

Approval was sought to remove this condition

In addition, the variation also sought a further additional hour of operation:

·         Into the morning following every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday for each May Bank Holiday, Spring/Whitsun Bank Holiday and every  August Bank Holiday weekend;

·         Into the morning following every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday for the Easter Bank Holiday weekend;

·         Into the morning every Christmas Eve;

·         Into the morning following every Boxing Day; and

·         From the end of prescribed hours New Year’s Eve to the start of prescribed hours New Year’s Day.

The Officer advised that the application had been served on all Responsible Authorities.  The Council’s Planning Authority had made representation which was set out at Appendix 3.

Four representations from local residents had also been made objecting to the application and these were also attached to the report as Appendix 3.

Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 imposed a duty on each local authority to exercise its various functions with due regard to the likely effect of the exercise of those functions on and the need to do all that it reasonably could to prevent crime and disorder in the area.

If the Licensing Authority decided that this application should be refused it would need to show that the grant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.