Agenda and minutes

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

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

To receive apologies for absence.

There were no apologies.

The Chairman reminded those present to use the microphones when addressing the meeting.

To receive any Members’ Declarations of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the Minutes of Previous Sub-Committee meetings:

22 August 2023

12 September 2023

It was moved by Councillor Connolly and seconded by Councillor Hill that the Minutes of the Sub-Committee meetings held on 22 August and 12 September 2023 be confirmed as correct records 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 22 August and 12 September 2023 be confirmed as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

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

The Chairman drew the hearing’s attention to the Summary of Procedure which was included in the main agenda pack at pages 16 – 22.

The Senior Licensing and Enforcement Officer presented his report and summarised the application. He answered questions from the Sub-Committee, the applicant’s legal representative, the applicant, the police as a responsible authority and the interested parties.

The Applicant’s legal representative said that amended conditions had been sent to the council on Tuesday 10 October and these superseded those initially submitted at Section 16 of the application. He said that these conditions had been submitted following a meeting held with the Police on Friday 6 October.

The Sub-Committee was advised by Sergeant Nathan Howson that whilst the Police agreed to the conditions, they still opposed the 24-hour licence application. After it was established that none of the Interested Parties had been sent these amended conditions, Councillor Willcocks proposed and Councillor Hill seconded, a motion that the hearing be adjourned for 5 minutes to allow the amended conditions to be circulated.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the meeting be adjourned for 5 minutes to allow the amended conditions to be circulated.

The meeting reconvened and the Applicant and his legal representative presented the application and explained why they had applied to vary the premises licence. The Sub-Committee was advised why full consultation had not been carried out by the applicant.

The applicant answered questions from the Sub-Committee, the police as a responsible authority and the interested parties.

Police Sergeant Howson made a submission on behalf of Hertfordshire Constabulary as a responsible authority. He responded to questions from the Sub-Committee, the applicant and his legal representative and the interested parties.

Councillor Duncan Wallace, on behalf of Buntingford Town Council, addressed the Sub-Committee in respect of his written submission. He answered questions from the Sub-Committee, the police and the applicant’s legal representative.

Councillor Willcocks proposed and Councillor Hill seconded, a motion that the hearing be adjourned to allow the Sub-Committee, the applicant, police and the interested parties time to consider the content of an email from Buntingford Town Council. This had been supplied to the licensing authority within time but had not been passed to all parties as this email was mixed within other correspondence received.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the meeting be adjourned to allow the Sub-Committee, the applicant, police and the interested parties time to consider the content of an email from Buntingford Town Council.

The meeting reconvened and Councillor Sue Nicholls, ward councillor for Buntingford addressed the Sub-Committee regarding her written submission. She answered questions from the Sub-Committee, the police and the applicant’s legal representative.

In line with procedure, following the closing statements from the applicant, the police as responsible authority and the interested parties, the Sub-Committee retired to consider the evidence presented to the hearing. 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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

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.