Agenda item

Report No: LSC/SE/18/003

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

The following parties were present at the Hearing:

(a)         Applicant – Mr Robert Lamb (Chairman of the Bury St Edmunds Heritage Trust) on behalf of the Guildhall Manager, Mrs Suzanne Stevenson

(b)         Interested Parties – Ms Cathy Friel (Churchgate Area Association)

The Licensing Officer presented the report which explained that an application had been received for a new premises licence for the Guildhall, Guildhall Street, Bury St Edmunds. A copy of the application was attached as Appendix 1 as well as a location plan which was attached as Appendix 2.

The application sought approval for licensable activities as outlined in paragraph 1.1.2 of the report.

Four representations from interested parties, objecting to the application, had been received and were attached as Appendix 3. 

Following receipt of the representations, the Applicant had held a public meeting at the Guildhall to provide interested parties with a tour of the facility and to discuss the objections that had been submitted. As a result of this the Applicant had amended the hours for live music/recorded music/performance of dance to Sun – Thu 08:00 – 00:00 and Fri – Sat 08:00 – 01:00. None of the representations had been withdrawn after the amendment.

The Sub-Committee then heard the individual submissions from each of the parties present.

In presenting the case for the applicant, Mr Lamb explained that the Bury St Edmunds Heritage Trust had been working co-operatively with residents in relation to the application and would continue to do so to ensure that there would be minimal disruption to residents during the Guildhall’s operating hours. Mr Lamb informed the Sub-Committee and interested parties that the Trust would restrict the amount of events that take place outside in the Guildhall garden to 10 per year to minimise noise disturbance to neighbouring residents.

A question was asked whether there was any acoustic insulation installed in the Guildhall. Mr Lamb explained that as the building was listed as Grade 1 they could not modify the building to install acoustic insulation.

Mr Lamb described the type of events they would be expecting to host at the Guildhall if the licence was granted in response to a question raised by Members.

Ms Friel then addressed the Hearing on behalf of the Churchgate Area Association. She explained that their concerns were that the proposed opening hours were later than similar venues in the area and that this would create noise disturbance for residents as people would be leaving the venue in the early hours of the morning. They had also objected to the proposal to have live and recorded music outside in the Guildhall garden as again this would create noise disturbance for neighbouring residents.

The applicant was invited to respond to the representation and Mr Lamb explained that outdoor events would be finished by 21:30 so residents were unlikely to experience noise disturbance from the Guildhall garden after this time.

The Licensing Team Leader sought clarity from the applicant as to the use of the Guildhall when it was not booked for a private event. The applicant explained that the Guildhall would be open during the day for members of the public to visit and non-alcoholic refreshments would be available. The bar would only be open for alcoholic drinks during private events.   

Further questions were raised by Members of the Sub-Committee in relation to smoking areas and monitoring where people could take alcoholic drinks. The applicant explained that Security Industry Authority (SIA) staff would be employed for late night events and they would prevent people from taking alcoholic drinks outside the premises. Designated smoking areas had not been considered at this stage but the applicant assured the Sub-Committee that the Trust would be looking into it.

Both parties were then given the opportunity to sum up their individual representations.

Following the summing up, the Licensing Team Leader and Licensing Officer accompanied both parties out of the Review Hearing to allow the Sub-Committee to give further consideration to the application. 

Both parties were recalled back to the Review Hearing, where the Business Partner (Litigation/Licensing)advised on the Sub-Committee’s decision.

With the vote being unanimous, it was

RESOLVED:

That, having taken into account all representations received both in writing and verbally, considered alongside the Council’s Licensing Policy and S182 guidance, THE APPLICATION FOR A NEW PREMISES LICENCE WAS GRANTED in accordance with the hours of operation and the conditions set out in Appendix 1 (of Report No: LSC/SE/18/003) subject to the amendments/additions as identified below:

Live music/recorded music/performance of dance:

Sunday-Thursday 08.00 – 00.00

Friday-Saturday 08.00 – 01.00

An additional condition that would restrict the amount of events held outside in the Guildhall’s gardens to 10 per year.