Agenda and minutes

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

Proposed by Cllr Jill Haynes, seconded by Cllr Andrew Starr.

Decision: that Cllr Les Fry be elected as Chair for the duration 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.

An application has been made for a new premises licence for Blue Sky Café, 60 The Esplanade, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8DE. The application has been out to public consultation.  Representations have been received. A Licensing Sub-Committee must therefore consider the application and representations at a public hearing. 

The Senior Licensing Officer introduced the application which was for the sale of alcohol on and off the premises, Monday to Sunday, 9am to midnight and recorded music during the same hours. Dorset Police had made representations requesting conditions relating to Challenge 25, staff training, an incident and refusals log and CCTV, be added to any licence granted. Environmental Protection had also made a representation requesting conditions relating to noise and lighting be added to any licence granted. The applicant had agreed to all those conditions. No representations were received from the remaining Responsible Authorities.

Mr Newwstead informed that he had a long history of working in the licensed trade including larger high-volume pubs and had never had any issues with the Police or otherwise. He was experienced at dealing with any anti-social behaviour and wanted a safe and comfortable environment for his customers. He wanted to work with the community and not cause any issues. He responded to questions asked by the Sub-Committee that music would not be played often, and he would make sure that the doors would be closed, and noise would not carry. He reassured that the business was a family business which would be embedded within the Community.

The parties are reminded that the licence could be subject to review if problems arise in the future.

All parties were given the opportunity to have their say and sum up their case.

To GRANT the Premises Licence with a terminal hour of 11pm for the sale of alcohol, with the usual mandatory conditions, the conditions consistent with the Operating Schedule and conditions requested by Dorset Police and Environmental Protection.

The licensable activities permitted under this Premises Licence are:

The Premises Licence is subject to:

a.      Mandatory Conditions:

1.    Supply of Alcohol (s19(2)&(3))

No supply of alcohol may be made under the premises licence –

(a)  at a time when there is no designated premises supervisor, or

(b)  at a time when the designated premises supervisor does not hold a personal licence or his  personal licence has been suspended.

Every supply of alcohol under the premises licence must be made or authorised by a person who holds a personal licence.

2. (1) The premises licence holder or club premises certificate holder must ensure that an age verification policy is adopted in respect of the premises in relation to the sale or supply of alcohol.

     (2) The designated premises supervisor in relation to the premises licence must ensure that the supply of alcohol at the premises is carried on in accordance with the age verification policy.

     (3) The policy must require individuals who appear to the responsible person to be under 18 years of age (or such older age as may be specified in the policy) to produce on request, before being served alcohol,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

An application has been made for a new premises licence for 49 Cheap Street, Sherborne. The application has been out to public consultation.  Representations have been received. A Licensing Sub-Committee must therefore consider the application and representations at a public hearing. 

The Senior Licensing Officer introduced the application which was for the sale of alcohol on the premises, Monday to Saturday 9:00 hrs to 00:30 hrs and Sunday, 9:00 hrs to 22:30 hrs, recorded music every day from 08:00 hrs to 23:00 hrs and live music Friday and Saturday from 20:00 hrs to 22:30 hrs and Sunday 12:00 hrs to 22:30 hrs. Dorset Police had made representations requesting conditions regarding numbers of staff, staff training, incidents of a criminal nature to be reported to the Police, CCTV, etc be added to any licence granted. Environmental Protection had also made a representation requesting a condition relating to disposal of glass be added to any licence granted. The Applicant had agreed to all those conditions. No representations were received from the remaining Responsible Authorities.

The applicant addressed the Sub-Committee accompanied by Mr Ford. They explained that between them they had a long history of working in the licensed trade including larger high-volume pubs and had never had any issues with the Police or otherwise. They were experienced at dealing with any anti-social behaviour and wanted a safe and comfortable environment for his customers. The[LA1]  café was small and would mostly be open during the day, opening during the evening in the summer months. The closing time had changed to 11pm rather than midnight in response to the representations submitted. They wanted to work with the community and not cause any issues. They understood that Sherborne was an historic town and wanted to continue to be part of, and support, the community as they had done to date. They appreciated the proximity of the living accommodation for pupils at Sherborne School but said they had a good relationship with the school and age verification would be required under the challenge 25 scheme. They didn’t want to cause any problems for the community and would ask customers dinning in the outside space to reduce the noise if they felt it was becoming too loud. They would undertake decibel checks and reduce the music volume if necessary.  In response to questioning, they wanted to have the 9am start time for alcohol so that they could provide an Irish coffee for example, but they would exercise discretion and not be serving a pint at that time in the morning. They were amenable to having to close the outside space at an earlier time and reducing the end time that alcohol could be sold.

Mr Shield, the Clerk of Sherborne Town Council, spoke on behalf of the Town Council, referring to the historic nature of the town which had a strong feeling of community. The Town Council had been disappointed that the Applicant had not engaged with them following their representation, but they acknowledged the existing successful business the Applicant operated and the positive contribution it made to the area. He explained that the area didn’t have a vibrant nighttime economy and their two main concerns were public nuisance and noise early in the morning and late  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

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 was no urgent items of business.

There are no exempt items scheduled for this meeting.  

There was no exempt business.