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 Fry, seconded by Cllr Wheller.

 

Decision: That Cllr Emma Parker be elected Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

 

Cllr Parker introduced the officers involved with the meeting and explained the procedure for the meeting.

 

To receive any apologies for absence.

 

An apology for absence was received from Cllr Andrews.

 

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

 

No declarations of interests were made at the meeting.

 

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.

 

An application has been made for a new premises licence for Parnham House in Beaminster. The application has been out to public consultation and has attracted relevant representations. A Licensing Sub-Committee must consider the application and representations at a public hearing. 

 

The Licencing Team Leader introduced the application for a new premises licence for Parnham House in Beaminster. Parnham House would be used for a wide variety of events and tourism accommodation, including a hotel. The Planning process would take full account of the concerns raised about the AONB and Rights of Way. The Sub-Committee had to consider what would be proportionate and appropriate in promoting the licencing objectives. If the premises licence was granted, conditions must be enforceable and clear to all parties. All parties were reminded of the licencing objectives.

 

Members’ attention was drawn to a typographical error in the report where the recommendation was incorrectly numbered as paragraph 13. The correct paragraph number was 16.

 

Several reports were received of Notices not being correctly advertised. Officers recommended that the application should proceed and referred to a recent High Court decision. Ms Le Fevre, the applicant’s Barrister, responded to the advertisement issue and stated that the application had been widely publicised, and the Notice period had been extended twice. An unprecedented number of representations had been received, indicating that the purpose of the Notice period had been met.

 

Ms Le Fevre was in attendance with the proposed designated premises supervisor, Mr Caton. Ms Le Fevre presented their application for the premises licence. If the licence was granted, the full licence would not be used immediately. The maximum occupancy would be 130 people staying at the grounds between Thursday and Sunday. A Noise Management Strategy had been created for the walled garden area. Any individual event with more than 500 people would require a full Event Management Plan which incorporated a Traffic Management Plan.

 

Members of the Sub-Committee asked questions of the applicants. The questions related to:

 

·       Noise and amplified music.

·       The type of events.

·       Light pollution.

·       Events which could lead to community concern

·       Managing rights of way and protecting children from harm.

·       Neighbouring residential properties.

 

The applicants responded to the questions and advised that:

 

Events would be limited to 10-15 days per year, with most evenings from Thursday to Sunday having dinners and light entertainment.

There could be private events for family, such as Christmas, as well as occasional events during the summer holidays for families and children.

A wide area is being applied for so guests could be entertained in a variety of spaces, such as by the lake. There would be a maximum of 2-3 larger events per year and these would be community based. Larger events would have all necessary planning. A sample event would take place for a professional to monitor noise. Noise would be monitored and recorded which would be available for the community to see. Noise limiters would be used on equipment. A phone number would be available for local residents to use. They did not want to upset the local community and wanted to create a positive addition to the area.

 

Members of the public who had made a representation were asked in turn to ask questions of the applicant.

 

During the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph x of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

 

Proposed by Cllr Fry, seconded by Cllr Wheller.

 

Decision: That the press and the public be excluded for the following item(s) in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

 

The Sub-Committee retired to make their decision.

 

Decision: To GRANT a Premises Licence for the area within the dashed blue line on the revised application plan dated 19/04/21 titled ‘Parnham House Masterplan 101_A_MP_1.1250 Rev A’ submitted to the hearing on 8 September 2021 and attached to the Notification of Determination, with the mandatory conditions and the conditions consistent with the Operating Schedule as amended by the Sub-Committee as set out in the Notification of Determination, to permit the following:

 

On and off sales of alcohol

Every Day 24 hours

 

Films, Live Music, Recorded Music, dance and any similar entertainment (indoors) (‘Indoors’ does not include a marquee or other structure where doors and windows cannot be closed to prevent noise escape)

 

Thursday to Saturday 08:00 to 02:00

Sunday to Wednesday 08:00 to 00:00

 

Films, Live Music, Recorded Music, dance and any similar entertainment (outdoors)

Every Day 08:00 to 23:00

10 days per year 08:00 to 01:00

 

Plays, Boxing and Wrestling (indoors) and Indoor Sports

Thursday to Saturday 10:00 to 01:00

Sunday to Wednesday 10:00 to 00:00

 

Plays, Boxing and Wrestling (outdoors)

Every Day 10:00 to 23:00

10 days per year 10:00 to 01:00

 

Late-Night Refreshment (indoors and outdoors)

Every Day 23:00 to 05:00

 

 

Reasons for the Decision:

 

The Sub-Committee carefully considered all the documents presented to it and the oral and written representations made by the parties.  They had regard to the four Licensing Objectives, the Section 182 Statutory Guidance, and the Dorset Council Statement of Licensing Policy.

 

This application was unusual in that it related to a wide scope of potential licensable activities over a very large site and it had attracted a large number of representations covering a range of issues. At the hearing the Sub-Committee was addressed by the applicant’s representatives and a significant number of members of the public and a Councillor. During the course of the hearing it became clear that it was the extent of the licence applied for which had particularly concerned local people. There was great support for the restoration of Parnham House, but there was an underlying fear that if the licence was granted as applied for, it was likely that there would be a large number of events over a vast area, attended by substantial numbers of people, with the real risk of considerable noise nuisance and disturbance to local people. 

 

The applicant’s representatives explained the owner’s plans for the site and his wish to work in harmony the local community, whilst also running a business to finance the restoration of the listed building. On the second day of the hearing the applicant submitted a revised application plan reducing the licensable area considerably.

 

The Sub-Committee was very grateful for the positive approach shown  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.