Agenda item

An application has been made for a new premises licence for Deans Court, Deans Court Lane, Wimborne, Dorset for regulated entertainment, the sale of alcohol, on and off the premises, and late-night refreshment. 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 Team Leader presented the application for a new premises licence for Deans Court, Deans Court Lane, Wimborne, Dorset for regulated entertainment, the sale of alcohol, on and off the premises, and late-night refreshment.

 

The Licensing Team Leader explained that there was a complex licence already in place and outlined the hours requested by the applicant for the new licence.  Dorset Police had requested 3 conditions to be added to the licence if granted.

 

The Licensing Team Leader explained that the venue had requested a number of Temporary Event Notices (TEN) each year and that it could be beneficial to have a licence in place to alleviate the requirement of applying for a TEN.

 

Nine representations relating to the application had been received and the one relating to wildlife was to be ignored as this was not one of the licensing objectives.

 

Sub-committee members, the applicant and objectors were given the opportunity to ask questions of the Licensing Team Leader.

 

The applicants introduced themselves, outlined their experience at the venue and gave a detailed history and context of the venue. It’s primary focus being  a wedding venue.  Having had meetings with Licensing, Dorset Police, Environmental Protection and the Fire Service, the applicants felt that there were a number of illogical conditions on the current licence.  A new licence would tidy these up and also enable the venue to offer extended timescales to clients without the need to apply for and charge extra for a TEN.

 

The venue had hosted weddings since 2011 with no history of problems with the Licensing Authority.  In addition to weddings, other activities included occasional school proms, baby showers and private functions.  There were no plans to do any public ticketed events.

 

Any noise complaints were always logged and acted upon immediately.

 

Sub-committee members, the Licensing Team Leader and objectors were given the opportunity to ask questions of the applicant.

 

In response the applicants suggested that their request for the new licence to cover 7 days a week, was just a blanket model and they would be happy to restrict the later timings to just Friday and Saturday.  A number of TENs had been requested in the last year with no objections and the venue always applied the overarching conditions of their licence.

 

There were questions and concerns from objectors regarding acoustic sound tests and noise readings, however no concerns had been raised by Environmental Protection.

 

Comfort break 11;27 – 11;37

 

Following the comfort break those present who had made representations were invited to put their case forward.

 

The main concerns raised were in relation to noise coming from the marquee and the on-site accommodation where guests often stayed.  As there was no formal measurement of sound it was considered subjective and therefore unqualified, the noise nuisance was more predominant in summer months when residents would have their doors and windows open.

 

Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions following each representation.

 

Following the opportunity of all those present to ask questions of all parties everyone was given the opportunity of summing up their cases.

 

In summary the concerns of those who had made representations were around the issue of noise and disturbance.  There was a desire to implement a noise management scheme going forward.  The applicant stressed that they just wanted the option to operate a little later on Friday and Saturday nights and if appropriate, a noise management plan could be agreed with Environmental Protection if it was considered necessary.

 

The Licensing Team Leader reminded the sub-committee that there had been no concerns raised by Environmental Protection who were Dorset Council’s experts.