Agenda and minutes

It was proposed by Councillor Marlow and seconded by Councillor Dunlop that Councillor Deffley be appointed Chairman for the meeting.  After being put to the meeting, and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

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

To receive apologies for absence.

There were no apologies.

The Chairman apologised that the Chamber microphones were not working, and that therefore the meeting would not be webcast. He asked that everyone spoke up and advised the Panel to say if they could not hear what was being said.

To receive any Members’ Declarations of Interest.

There we no declarations of interest.

To approve the Minutes of the Sub-Committee meeting held on 14 August 2023.

It was moved by Councillor Dunlop and seconded by Councillor Marlow that the Minutes of the Sub-Committee meeting held on 14 August 2023 be confirmed as correct and signed by the Chairman. After being put to the meeting, and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Sub-Committee meetings held on 14 August 2023 be signed by the Chairman.

A summary of the procedure to be followed during consideration of item 7 is attached.

The Chairman drew the hearings attention to the Summary of Procedure which was included in the main agenda pack at pages 15 – 20.

The Senior Licensing and Enforcement Officer presented his report and summarised the application. There were no questions from the applicant or the Sub-Committee.

The Applicant presented the application and answered questions from the Sub-Committee. There were no questions from officers.

In line with procedure, there being no closing statements, the Sub-Committee retired to consider the evidence presented to the hearing by the Senior Licensing and Enforcement Officer and the Applicant. They were accompanied by the Democratic Services Officer and the Litigation and Advisory Lawyer. 

The Sub-Committee reconvened in public session to give its decision.

The Chairman said that the Licensing Sub-Committee had considered the application for a new premises Licence for The Lounge, Unit 25 The Maltings Business Centre, Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbotts, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 8HG (23/0804/PL) which has included the application, the report, the representations from Interested Parties and Applicant, the conditions agreed between the Applicant and Hertfordshire Constabulary.  In addition, the Licensing Sub Committee had listened to the comments of the Senior Licensing and Enforcement Officer and the Applicant. He said that the Interested Parties had not attended.

The Chairman said that in determining this matter the Sub-Committee had noted the Applicant had amended the application:

a)           to remove the licensable activity from the outdoor area.

b)          to restrict the sale of alcohol on and off the premises to 18:00 each day except for 35 event days per year when the hours will be as requested in the application (Sun – Thurs 12:00 – 23:00 and Fri – Sat 12:00 – 00:00).  The Police and Licensing Authority to be notified a minimum of 24 hours in advance of event days and a log of events is to be kept at the premises.

c)            No more than 6 people will be allowed to smoke outside at any given time which will be managed by a host.

The Chairman said that Members had determined to grant the application subject to conditions 1-12 and 16 as agreed between the Applicant and Hertfordshire Constabulary.  Members had amended conditions 13, 14 and 15 to read:

·              No open vessels to be taken outside the premises.

·              No more than six (6) people to use the designated outside area for smoking at any one time. 

·              The designated outside area for smoking shall be agreed with Hertfordshire Constabulary Licensing Team and appended to the licence.

The Chairman said that in coming to its decision, the Sub-Committee was mindful to strike a healthy balance between residents’ interests and supporting the local economy. He said that Members were mindful of the concerns addressed by the Interested parties and were pleased that the Applicant had taken time to engage with them, which had resulted in the Applicant having amended the application to allay their representations.  He said that Members noted the Applicant had withdrawn the use of the outside area from any licensable activity which would further negate any noise nuisance from these premises and Members had further addressed these concerns by removing the capability for patrons to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

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.