Agenda and minutes

It was moved by Councillor Jones and seconded by Councillor Snowdon, that Councillor Bolton be appointed Chairman for the meeting.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that Councillor Bolton be appointed Chairman for the meeting.

To receive apologies for absence.

There were no apologies.

The Chairman said that the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 came into force on Saturday 4 April 2020 to enable Councils to hold remote committee meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic period. This was to ensure local authorities could conduct business during this current public health emergency. This meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee was being held remotely under these regulations, via the Zoom application and was being recorded and live streamed on YouTube.

To receive any Members’ Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the Minutes of Previous Sub-Committee meetings:

20 November 2020

9 December 2020

It was moved by Councillor Jones and seconded by Councillor Snowdon that the Minutes of the meetings held on 20 November and 9 December 2020 each be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meetings held on 20 November and 9 December 2020 each be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman summarised the procedure for the Sub-Committee hearing. All those present were introduced or introduced themselves. The Senior Licensing and Enforcement Officer presented his report covering a new premises licence application under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003. The Sub-Committee was advised that on the 29 October 2020, an application was received for a location known as at Waterbridge, Frogmore Hill, Watton at Stone.

The Senior Licensing and Enforcement Officer said that the application sought a number of licensable activities including the performance of plays, the exhibition of films and live and recorded music. The hours applied for were Friday to Sunday between 10 am and 11 pm and the applicant had also applied to supply alcohol on the premises between 11 am and 11 pm. The application was for numerous events between May and September 2021.

The Senior Licensing and Enforcement Officer said that steps to promote the licensing objectives had been included with the application and these included the use of SIA door staff and stewarding, CCTV and an incident book. The Sub-Committee was advised that all events would be seated and entry to the site would be staggered. A challenge 25 policy would be in use and there would be a prohibition of certain items being brought onto the site.

The Senior Licensing and Enforcement Officer said that event and fire risk assessments would be in place and volume levels would be limited and monitored on the site and no glass bottles or cups would be permitted. Members were advised that all of these steps would be supported by conditions as agreed with Environmental Health Officers.

The Sub-Committee was advised that family entertainment in the form of outdoor cinema, theatrical performances, live and DJ music and comedy and events would be held on 2 days every other weekend between 1 May 2020 and 27 September 2021, except for the August Bank Holiday weekend and the following weekend of the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th September.

The Senior Specialist Licensing Officers said that during the consultation period there had been a representation from the police acting as a responsible authority. The concerns of Hertfordshire Constabulary related to the number of proposed events and the intended numbers due to be present. The police were also concerned about the impact of traffic, noise and litter on the neighbouring area. The Sub-Committee was advised that the licensing objectives relating to the prevention of public nuisance, prevention of crime and disorder and public safety were all triggered by the police objection.

The Sub-Committee should determine the application with a view to promoting the four licensing objectives and if Members believed that the application would not undermine the licensing objectives, it should be granted as requested. If the Sub-Committee believed that the application would undermine the licensing objectives, it was within the remit of Members to take appropriate and proportionate steps to address their concerns.

The Senior Licensing and Enforcement Officer said that the application could  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

To consider such other business as, in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting, is of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration and is not likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information.

There was no urgent business.