Agenda and minutes

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

It was proposed by Cllr Lugg and seconded by Cllr Haynes.

Decision: That Cllr Starr 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 4 St Edmund Street, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8AR. 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 addressed the Sub-Committee. The application was for a new premises licence which was brought before the Sub-Committee due to objections being made. Details of the application were provided and it was explained that any conditions involving live music would only apply outside of the hours between 0800 and 2300, due to the Live Music Act 2012 allowing amplified music within these hours under certain conditions. The conditions proposed by Dorset Police had been agreed to by the applicant and Weymouth Town Council had no objections to the application.

Mr Burton outlined the case for a premises licence to be granted. He explained that the proposed business would be a music café that would mainly play music on vinyl records, with occasional live acoustic music. It was stated that the café would not be a late-night music venue and the type of music played would encourage customers to leave gradually towards the end of the evening. There was no planned seasonal variation in opening hours apart from New Years Eve, where the venue would operate extended hours. It was also stated that the applicants had significant experience in managing licensed premises and operated another late-night venue in Weymouth without issues.

In response to questions from members and other parties present, Mr Burton provided the following responses:

·       The primary focus of the café would be playing music rather than alcohol consumption.

·       The applicants had run a separate licensed premises in Weymouth since 2012 and prior to that had managed a pub and hotel, so had extensive experience working in licensed premises.

·       The proposed café would provide a new and different offering within Weymouth.

·       The exact capacity of the café would be determined by fire and safety guidelines; however the café would have a policy requiring customers to wait before being seated.

·       The proposed café would choose music with the opening and closing hours in mind, with a more relaxing atmosphere being curated towards closing time.

·       Live music would be occasional and would consist of a guitar or piano with a singer.  

·       The volume levels of music would be controlled by the management present on site and would be monitored in real time.

·       The applicants didn’t believe it necessary to include a Noise Management Plan due to the robust conditions already agreed to.

Mr Shearing addressed the Sub-Committee. He stated that most of the points that had been raised by Respect Weymouth had been addressed through the statement and subsequent answers by the applicant and that having heard the details of the proposed café no longer objected to the licence being granted.

The Environmental Health Team Leader confirmed that the proposed condition about ensuring the inner doors were closed after 2300 hours only applied to live music and not recorded music.

Decision

To grant the Premises Licence ,with the usual mandatory conditions, the conditions consistent with the Operating Schedule and requested by Dorset Police and Environmental Protection.

The Premises Licence is subject to:

1. Mandatory Conditions:

1.       Supply of Alcohol  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

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.

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 3 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 are no exempt items scheduled for this meeting.  

There was no exempt business.