Agenda item

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 take open vessels outside of the premises.

The Chairman said that Members were satisfied that the conditions agreed with Hertfordshire Constabulary and amendments to these conditions were appropriate to promote the licensing objectives and would address many of the representations received.

The Chairman said that the decision would be sent out in writing and there was the right of appeal within 21 days to the magistrate’s court.

RESOLVED – that the application for a New Premises for the Lounge, Unit 25, The Maltings Business Centre, Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbotts, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 8HG (23/0804/PL), be granted.