Agenda and draft minutes

The Sub Committee are asked to appoint a Chair for the duration of the meeting.

Councillor Humphreys nominated Councillor Davies as Chair and this was seconded by Councillor Fraser.

Councillor Davies was appointed to Chair the meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee.

The Sub Committee are asked to declare any intereststhat they may have.

There were none.

All attendees at the hearing are to note the procedures of the Sub Committee.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the Sub-Committee and officer’s present.

Richard Ricks, Barrister, apologised to the applicant regarding not being advised of the Sub-Committee Hearing and explained to the applicant that she would be entitled to an adjournment if she required representation. The applicant advised that she wanted to proceed with the hearing and would be representing herself.

The Chair read out the Procedures of the Sub-Committee.

Lorna Curtis, Lead Licensing Officer presented the report and outlined the application and the decision to be taken.

The Chair invited the Applicant to put their case to the Sub-Committee.

The Applicant stated that she was employed by the previous leaseholder who had bought the pub in September 2019. The Applicant was asked to manage the pub and had changed it from a nefarious establishment to a family orientated community hub. The Applicant left after 3 years after which the pub returned to its former state. The landlord sold the pub and the new landlord asked the Applicant to manage the pub again. The Applicant purchased the pub from him and managed once again to turn the pub into a family and community establishment that was part of the local Parent and Teachers association, donated money to the local school and arranged litter picks.

The Applicant felt that the application was a reasonable request and although she had applied for music through the summer months, would only have live music in the 6 weeks school holidays. The Applicant explained that it would not be particularly loud music involving bands with electric guitars and drums, rather a duo or background music and it would be well monitored. Having lived in the area for many years, she understood the local population demographic and needs of the local people.

The Chair asked the applicant if she accepted the recommendations of the noise surveys undertaken. The applicant said that she did.

The Chair asked how many customers were likely to be in the pub on a fine summers’ day. The applicant replied about 40-50 people.

Members asked how often the music events were likely to take place during the summer months. The Applicant confirmed that it would be during the six weeks holiday; from the last weekend in July to the first weekend in September. Usually on a Sunday and occasionally Saturdays.

Members asked the Applicant if she would be confident monitoring sound levels. The applicant confirmed that being entirely responsible for the pub this time round, she would be able to ensure that the noise levels were kept in check.

The Chair asked how neighbours could contact the Applicant if they deemed the noise levels too loud. The Applicant explained that she was always on site. An officer had advised the Applicant to put a notice on the door with contact numbers and a number of residents had the applicant’s Facebook details and mobile number already.

The Chair invited the interested parties objecting to the application to put their case to the Sub-Committee.

The points that were put forward by the objector included the following:

·        The Objectors were direct neighbours whose garden backed on to the pub car park. Having lived alongside the pub for many years, they felt that having live music in the garden was a step too far.

·        Customers in the car park and garden made a lot of noise and used foul language. They must keep their windows closed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.