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 declarations of interests in respect of Schedule 1, Schedule 2 or Other Interests from members of the committee in respect of items on the agenda.

To consider an application for a grant of a premises licence in respect of: mila, 102-104 Belmont Road, Hereford, HR2 7JS.

At the request of the applicant’s solicitors, this application had been deferred to the sub committee meeting due to be held on 2 August 2019 at 10.30 am.

To consider an application for a variation of a premises licence for in respect of Shooters Bar, Grafton House, Burgess Street, Leominster. HR6 8DE

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.

The licensing officer presented the report.

The environmental health officer outlined the reason for their representation which were about the extension of the hours and the ongoing noise issues, particularly in connection with music events.   There had also been complaints from residents about noise management.   It was reported that there was an ongoing noise complaint which is currently being investigated.  The environmental health officer stated that there had been discussions with applicant about the noise concerns emanating from inside the premises and about controlling the noise for every night and not just the extended hours being sought by the application.    The agreed conditions had been published as supplement (as supplement 2).   As part of the agreed conditions, there would only be extended hours on 12 Thursdays in a year and that if the variation was granted, a noise management plan would be produced and agreed which would include controlling the noise.   It was stated that discussions between the environmental health officer, the applicant and the applicant’s agent were ongoing.  

The environmental health officer confirmed that on the basis of the agreed conditions, the original representation had been withdrawn.

Following a request for clarification, the environmental health officer confirmed that there was an ongoing noise issue with the premises and that work was ongoing with the applicant in connection with this. 

The ward member then outlined her representation which included the fact that Shooters Bar was an important part of Leominster’s night time economy.  She was very encouraged by the environmental health officer’s comments.  However, she had received verbal reports of drunken behaviour next to the central car park and that she had an outstanding query with the police in relation to an alleged chainsaw incident.   

The member of the public who had made a public representation outlined that there was already noise from Shooters Bar to 0300 hrs.   On a bank holiday weekend, the noise was on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday and that in his view the hours did not need to be extended.    He reported that the patrons from Shooters were often outside with foul language and bad behaviour and that granting the extension would only make matters worse.  

Following a request for clarification, the environmental health officer confirmed that the extension on a Thursday night was the only major change to the current premises licence.   There were concerns about potential noise issues on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and this had been the basis for representation.   There had been discussions with the applicant about ways of reducing the noise.   This had led to an agreement to reduce the number of Thursdays to 12 per year.   It was also reported that the applicant would be making structural changes to the premises, changing the sound systems and would notify the council prior to events so that checks could  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.