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 Andrews, seconded by Cllr Parker.

Decision: That Cllr Fry be appointed as Chairman.

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 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. The application has been out to public consultation and has attracted a relevant representation. A Licensing Sub-Committee must therefore consider the application and representations at a public hearing. 

The Licencing Team Leader introduced the application for a new premises licence for the on-sale of alcohol every day between the hours of 11.00 and 17.00. There was one representation which objected to the application, particularly the opening hours and people sitting in the outside area. The applicant provided a written response to the objection.

In the absence of the applicant or their representative, a member asked a question of the Licencing Team Leader about how many people the premises could seat. The number of seats could not be confirmed; however it was stated that the café is small.

The objector presented her case to the Sub-Committee. Although the premises was sound proofed, the objector has experienced loud noise and vibrations coming from the premises. The café is located in a residential area with the outside seating area being close to the objector’s door. People in the outside seating area can be heard from within the object’s house and occasionally people have walked inside the house. There was also a concern that people in the café could drink too much alcohol.

The Sub-committee asked questions of the objector and in response she confirmed that:

·       The premises was various shops before it became a café

·       The seating area is next to her back door

·       There has previously been loud noise coming from the premises

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

The Sub-Committee retired to make their decision.

Decision: To GRANT the Premises Licence to permit the following: 

Supply of alcohol (on the premises only) 

Every day 11:00 to 17:00 

Licence Conditions

The Licence is granted subject to the mandatory conditions and the conditions consistent with the operating schedule in Appendix 1 of the report to the Licensing Sub-Committee with the following changes;

The premises licence holder shall take appropriate measures to ensure that patrons using any outside areas do so in a quiet and orderly fashion.

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 1 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

To consider whether a driver licenced to drive both hackney carriages and private hire vehicles remains a fit and proper person to continue to hold a licence

Proposed by Cllr Fry, seconded by Cllr Parker

Decision: That Cllr Andrews be appointed as Chairman for this item.

The Sub-Committee considered a report to determine whether a licenced hackney carriage and private hire driver remained a fit and proper person to continue to hold a licence after being recently convicted of driving without due care and attention.

Mr H was given the opportunity to present his case to the Sub-Committee.

All parties were invited to ask questions. Mr H then summed up his case.

The Sub-Committee retired to make their decision.

Decision: NOT TO revoke the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

To consider an application for a new hackney carriage drivers’ licence from a licenced private hire driver, and to consider whether the private hire drivers’ licence should be retained after a number of recent motoring offences were revealed during the application process.

Proposed by Cllr Andrews, seconded by Cllr Fry.

Decision: That Cllr Parker be appointed as Chairman for this item.

The Sub-Committee considered a report to determine an application for a new hackney carriage drivers’ licence from a licenced private hire driver, and to determine whether the private hire drivers’ licence should be retained after a number of recent motoring offences were revealed.

The applicant was given the opportunity to present their case at the Sub-Committee but did not attend.

The Sub-Committee asked questions of the Licencing Team Leader regarding the motoring offences.

The Sub-Committee retired to make their decision.

Decision: To REFUSE the application for a Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence and to REVOKE the Private Hire Driver’s Licence.