Agenda and minutes

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

Prop by Cllr Cocking, seconded by Cllr Taylor

Decision:

That Cllr Emma Parker be appointed Chairman for the duration of 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.

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 consider two Objection Notices to a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) for Neon in Bridport.

The Licensing Team Leader presented the report to consider two Objection Notices to a Temporary Event notice (TEN) for Neon in Bridport.

The TEN had been served to extend the licence from 02:00 – 04:00hrs on Sunday 31 October.  The Licensing Team Leader advised the sub-committee of the three options they could take:-

1. issue a counter notice for the event which will not allow it to occur.
2. issue a Statement of Conditions setting out any conditions from the relevant remises licence that are to be imposed on the TEN
3. not to issue counter notices and allow the event as applied for.

The TEN could not be modified.

The sub-committee were invited to ask questions of the Licensing Team Leader who confirmed that there had been no complaints directly to the licensing team from the previous TEN that was granted.

There were no questions from Environmental Health, the Licensee or Dorset Police for the Licensing Team Leader.

The Licensee was given the opportunity to put his case forward.

Questions from the sub-committee to the Licensee focused on the capacity of the location both inside and out, number of staff expected to be working, whether this was a ticketed event, noise spikes, ventilation, how alcohol consumption was controlled, how the sound of music would be controlled and entry/re-entry restrictions.

The Licensing Team Leader, the Environmental Health Officer and Dorset Police were given the opportunity to ask questions of the Licensee.

The Environmental Health Officer was invited to put her case forward.

The sub-committee were advised that there were 4 open complaints of noise from the premises following the last TEN that was granted and there were concerns that there was the potential for statutory noise nuisance

Sub-committee members, the Licensing Team Leader, the Licensee and the Dorset Police representative were given the opportunity to ask questions of the Environmental Health Officer.

The Dorset Police representative presented his case to the sub-committee. 

The sub-committee, the Licensing Team Leader, the Licensee, and the Environmental Health Officer were invited to ask questions of the Dorset Police Representative.

All parties present were given the opportunity to sum up their cases and the Solicitor for Dorset Council confirmed that all points had been covered.

The Sub-committee retired to make their decision.

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.

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).

Decision: To ISSUE A COUNTER NOTICE 

Reason for Decision:

The Sub-Committee carefully considered the documents presented to it, and the oral statements made by the parties attending the hearing.  They had regard to the Licensing Objectives, the Section 182 Statutory Guidance, and the Dorset Council Statement of Licensing Policy 2021-2026.  

The Sub-Committee considered that given the information put forward by Dorset Police and the Dorset Council Environmental Protection Team, it was appropriate to issue a Counter Notice in this instance. To allow the event to go ahead would undermine the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance.