Agenda and minutes

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

In being proposed by Cllr Emma Parker, and seconded by Cllr Les Fry, it was

Resolved

That Cllr Kate Wheller be elected Chairman for the meeting.

Cllr Weller provided the meeting with a statement for the procedure of the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were received at the meeting.

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 disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

It was confirmed that all of the Sub-Committee had taken the opportunity to visit the site – to familiarise themselves with it - prior to 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 for consideration.

An application has been made for a new premises licence for Piazzo Lounge, 4-5 The Square, Wimborne. 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 Licensing Officer outlined the application for a new Premises Licence for Piazzo Lounge, 4-5 The Square, Wimborne and the activities and times being applied for - which were to permit the:

Supply and sale of alcohol (on the premises only)

·        External areas Monday to Sunday - between 10:00 to 22:00 hours

·        Internal Areas Monday to Sunday - between 10:00 to 23:00 hours

·        New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day – from the terminal hour for those activities on New Year's Eve through to the commencement time for those activities on New Year's Day.

The application being sought had been revised from the original application so as to seek to address some of the issues raised in the representations received to the formal consultation.

The Sub-Committee was addressed by the Senior Licensing Officer who outlined her report. The original application had sought a licence for the sale of alcohol on the premises every day from 10:00 to midnight, together with late night refreshment from 23:00 to 00:30 each day, with additional hours for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

The Officer stated that the Dorset Council Environmental Protection Team, as a Responsible Authority, had submitted a representation relating to potential noise nuisance due to the proximity of residential dwellings. The Licensing Officer explained that following discussions between the applicant and the Environmental Protection Team, the applicant proposed an amendment to their application to reduce the alcohol sales to 23:00 rather than midnight each day, to remove late night refreshment completely and to render all outside tables and chairs unusable after 22:00 each day. The Operating Schedule was also slightly amended to reflect this. However, the concerns of the Environmental Protection Team regarding the use of the external areas were not alleviated and the representation was not withdrawn.

The Sub-Committee was advised that three representations were received from members of the public, (including the Wimborne Residents’ Action Group) relating to noise and anti-social behaviour. The representations referred to the use of the external space, formerly parking spaces, as a beer garden and the external area to the front of the premises and the potential for noise nuisance for the residents of dwellings nearby. It was suggested that due to the nature of the area there was no effective way of mitigating the nuisance and a request was made to reduce the timings for the sale of alcohol to 23:00 and for the external space not to be used.

The Sub-Committee was addressed by an officer from the Dorset Council Environmental Protection Team. He stated that a representation had been made in relation to the licensing objective of the prevention of public nuisance, relating to noise. Discussions had been held with the Applicant, following which the hours had been reduced and some concerns had been alleviated, but the main concern was the use of the outside area at the rear of the premises. The officer felt that the noise from customers using the outside area at the front of the premises would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

There was no significant supplementary information raised at the meeting.

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.

There was no exempt business for consideration.