To receive apologies for absence.

To receive any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the committee.

There were no substitutes present at the meeting.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on the agenda.

To consider an application for a review of a premises licence in respect of: The Horse & Jockey, 9-10 New Street, Ross on Wye, HR9 7DA,made by Herefordshire Council: environmental health.

Members of the licensing sub committee of the council’s planning and regulatory committee considered the above application, full details of which appeared before the Members in their agenda and the background papers.

Prior to making their decision the members heard from Fred Spriggs, licensing officer,  Elizabeth Laughland, principal environmental health officer and Sergeant Duncan Reynolds, West Mercia Police. Members also heard from the premises licence holder’s solicitor, the  area manager for the premises licence holder and the designated premises supervisor.

BACKGROUND

The committee heard from Fred Spriggs that an application for a review of the premises licence had been received from Herefordshire Council: environmental health due to noise nuisance complaints.  West Mercia Police had made a representation stating that in their opinion that the premises licence holder had failed to promote the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance licensing objectives. Representations had also been received from trading standards and members of the public.

This application had been before the committee of 11 September 2017 and had been adjourned at the request of the premises licence holder.

The committee heard from Elizabeth Laughland, principal environmental health officer, Herefordshire Council that the environmental protection team had received 9 complaints from 3 separate households and 9 referrals from the police since March 2016.    The complaints concerned reports of noisy events.    The premises had been previously advised to ensure that the volume was kept to a reasonable level and music with a dominant bass sound should be avoided. During the summer of 2016 they had made visits on 11 separate occasions on a Friday and Saturday night and while noise had been audible out of the confines of the the premises on two occasions it was not considered they had been sufficient to constitute a statutory nuisance at that time.  However from April 2017 they had received further complaints and concerns about a drum and bass event scheduled for 7 April 2017. Following discussion with Mr Hudson the event had been cancelled and he had agreed to prepare and submit a noise management plan and that no events should be forthcoming until that plan was agreed and was in place. However, a party occurred at the premises on 16 June that had included heavy base and Mr Hudson had been reminded of the need to put in place a noise management plan as the previous version had been inadequate.. Notwithstanding this engagement on 7 and 8 July 2017, further events were held which breached conditions of their licence in connection with noise and vibration.   On 7 July, environmental health officers witnessed the music to be causing a statutory noise nuisance from a neighbouring authority and on 11 July Mr Hudson (designated premises supervisor [DPS]) and the premises licence holder were served with notice abatement notices. 

The committee heard from Sergeant Duncan Reynolds, West Mercia Police that there had been numerous opportunities for the premises licence holder to address the issues which had been raised with both environmental health and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

To consider an application for a variation of a premises licence in respect of: The Ducking Stool, 11 South Street, Leominster, HR6 8JA.

Members of the licensing sub committee of the council’s planning and regulatory committee considered the above application, full details of which appeared before the Members in their agenda and the background papers.

Prior to making their decision the members heard from Fred Spriggs, licensing officer, together with the residents of Leominster and and the ward member, Councillor J Bartlett. All had made relevant  representations.  Members also heard from the agent for the premises licence holder.

BACKGROUND

The committee heard from Fred Spriggs that an application had been received for a variation of the current premises licence conditions as set out in the papers before them. There had been other representations made in connection with the application.   

The committee heard from Mr J Jackson who was the chairman of the South Street Residents Association (SSRA) which represented 18 residents and included 11 vulnerable people residing in the SHYPP foyer accommodation.    The residents’ association, premises licence holder and the premises licence holder’s agent had met on 20 September 2017 and had agreed the first five conditions set out in the supplement pack which had been published on Friday 22 September 2017.  Mr Jackson had then agreed to consult with those residents who had not been able to attend the meeting and they had subsequently requested consideration being given to conditions 6 to 9 in supplement pack.   These additional comments had not been agreed with the premises licence holder’s agent and Mr Jackson requested that the committee disregarded those conditions and only considered points 1 to 5.   The SSRA were looking forward to welcoming the premises licence holder to their future meetings.  

The committee then heard from Sally Payen who indicated that while she wished the business to be a success  it should not lead to a reduction in the standard of living of the residents, many of whom were vulnerable.  She noted that this was a conservation area and some of the buildings were listed particularly those that backed onto the yard of the premises (some 7 in total). The construction of the buildings was not good for sound attenuation and she noted that her own timber frame building meant that any noise emanating from the outside area of the premises could be heard directly inside her home. She had lived there for 13 years and did not want to faced with disrupted weekends again when she would go back to work on a Monday exhausted. The noise from the premises needed to be kept to a minimum.  

The committee also heard from Mr J Gittings representing the Talbot Hotel who again indicated that their concern was for the residents occupying the hotel and any noise which may emanant from the premises. This was further evidenced in the committee papers.

Members heard from Cllr J Bartlett, ward member for Leominster East who represented local residents and who indicated that there had been historical concerns about late night noise.  Cllr Bartlett had known the premises licence holder for a number of years,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.