Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the meeting and the Chairman to present and explain the procedure for the meeting.

Proposed by Cllr Andrews, seconded by Cllr Parker.

Decision: that Cllr Les Fry be appointed Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

To receive any declarations of interest.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

The Licensing Team Leader introduced the application for a new premises licence for 38 Maiden Street, Weymouth. The application described the premises as a town centre restaurant and bar and sought permission for live and recorded music, late night refreshment and alcohol supply.  The Team Leader clarified the times sought on the application.

The Licensing Team Leader referred to the two Statutory Instruments that created the new Dorset Council and extended the life of the current polices until 31 March 2021. These were the Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements)(No.2) Regulations 2018 and the Local Government (Structural Changes) (General)(Amendment) Regulations 2018. The Team Leader explained that as these SIs extended the life of the predecessor Council’s policies until 31 March 2021 the current Cumulative Impact Policy contained within the 2014-2019 policy for the Weymouth Borough Council is still in effect and should be followed unless there is a good reason as to why it should be disregarded.

The Team Leader drew the sub-committee’s attention to paragraph 6.12.2 of the Cumulative Impact Policy and the regulations within.

There were no questions for the Team Leader at this stage.

The Applicant was invited to present his case to the sub-committee.  He explained that there would be background music only in a rum themed bar with a caribbean style restaurant with a takeaway service, aimed at couples.  He was looking for a late-night licence up to midnight only.  The delivery service would be run from a dark kitchen with delivery service only. 

In response to sub-committee questions the Applicant re-iterated that the premises would consist of a small rum bar for drinks before and after food.  The food for both restaurant and takeaway would be caribbean based and delivered by an official delivery company.  The applicant had been in the licensing trade previously but not for some time.  There would be door staff, age limits and no groups in the premises. The numbers in the restaurant and bar would be staggered. 

The Service Manager Licensing & Community Safety asked if the building had been signed off by the Fire Officer and Building Control, the applicant advised that would not been possible until the building was in his name.

The Service Manager Licensing & Community Safety addressed the sub-committee.  The starting position for the Local Authority was that any new premises within a Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) should be refused unless the authority was content that it would not add to the problems in the area.  This was an existing problem area with numerous issues and a difficult bar to run.  He had seen nothing in the application to convince him that the premises would not add to the problems in the area.  There have been multiple issues with the premises which resulted in the expedited review earlier in the year.  There had been no consultation with the Licensing Authority prior to the application which was a direct contravention to section 182 guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  Having checked the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.