To receive apologies for absence.

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

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

To consider an application for a variation to a premises licence for The Grandstand, Grandstand Road, Hereford. HR4 0AF.

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 and Richard Jackson, regional business development manager, Greene King Retailing Limited.

Mr Jackson apologised to the committee as the representations had been agreed after the publication of the committee’s papers.   These representations should have been agreed either during the 28 days consultation or very shortly after but there had been a mis-communication between the Greene King Retailing Limited regional office and head office.

DECISION

The sub committee’s decision is to grant the licence with the conditions as agreed. 

REASONS

The committee had taken into account the representations and that it was necessary for a committee meeting to be convened.    It was noted that as the representations had not been agreed prior to the publication of the committee papers, this had incurred a cost to the council which could have been avoided.  

To consider an application for a new premises licence in of ‘The Den, 16-17 Bridge Street, Hereford. HR4 9DF.

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, Mrs Jackie Sewell, who had made a public representation, Harry Murray, a director of the Den Hereford Limited and Mr Bill Jackson, the agent for the property.   As no notice of intention had been received from the applicant, the chairperson of the sub-committee used their discretion and allowed Mr Jackson to speak with a time limit of three minutes.  

Mrs Jackie Sewell outlined her representation as follows:

·                She was supportive of the Den being in Bridge Street as it had brought value to the area but was concerned over the detail

·                It was appreciated that the music would finish at 2300 hrs.

·                The Den had made efforts to turn the vent off when the kitchen was closed.

·                Due to the vibration of the vent, the kitchen would need to be closed at 2300 hrs rather than midnight as the entire bedroom vibrated when it was in operation

Mr Harry Murray as a director of The Den Hereford Limited and Mr Bill Jackson, the agent, outlined the following:

·                They would agree to the kitchen being closed 2300hrs.  

·                The Den employed 21 people and had been trading for 5 years.  

·                 They had spent £40k renovating the new premises

·                The area had always been used for recreational purposes including restaurants.  

·                There were seven licensed restaurants in the area.

·                Three premises shared the use of the terracing outside which also had premises licences.  

·                There had been issues with the previous tenants which had not repeated themselves with this company. 

The meeting was adjourned to allow the parties to discuss the issues and see whether conditions could be agreed.   

Once the meeting adjourned, Mr Spriggs as the licensing officer reported that conditions had been agreed.  It was noted that the use of the outside area and the timings had already been agreed as part of the environmental health representations contained at appendix 2.  It was reported that the applicant had agreed there would be no hot food after 2300hrs.  Mr Spriggs confirmed that the agreed conditions took account of the written representation from Mr Ben Turner.  

DECISION

The sub committee’s decision is to grant the licence with the conditions as agreed. 

REASONS

The committee had taken into account the representations and that it was necessary for a committee meeting to be convened.   As the relevant representations that made been made had been able to be resolved via conditions consistent with the operating schedule, the committee was able to grant the license.