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 premise licence in respect of Ledbury Town Football Club, New Street, Ledbury. HR8 2EL under the Licensing Act 2003.

Members of the licensing sub-committee from 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 principal licensing officer presented the report.

The sub-committee heard from the public representation who highlighted

·                That there had been noise complaints in the past.

·                The premises were in a residential area with families with young children.

·                The public representation had to get up at 4.00 am / 5.00 am in order to go to work.

·                There were no sound barriers in place.

·                There were points also made in the written representations which formed part of the agenda pack.

Following a query from a member of the sub-committee, the public representation confirmed that there was no noise from the pub at the end of the road.   They lived close to the premises and the road area became a car park and there was noise from the football club.    Like a majority of the residents, during summer months they wished to sleep with their windows open.

The sub-committee then heard from the applicant who highlighted:

·                The application was based on a worse case scenario which would not happen.

·                It had been based on another football club’s application.

·                The premises would only be open on a Saturday, Sunday or if there was            training. 

·                They would be more than happy to amend the application to 11.00 pm and 1.00       am had been put in just in case.

·                There would be music on very few occasions, e.g. music at charity or     presentation evenings.

Following questions from the sub committee, the following was confirmed:

·                There were currently no channels of communications with the residents.

·                The applicant would be willing to change the hours to an earlier terminable        hour for weekdays and weekends.

After a private discussion, the sub-committee adjourned this application until 4.30 pm on 12 July to allow communication between the applicant and residents.

To consider an application for a grant of a premise licence in respect of Dom’s Bike Stop, Westeaton Nurseries, Stoke Prior Lane, Leominster. HR6 0NA under the Licensing Act 2003.

Members of the licensing sub-committee from 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 principal licensing officer presented the report.

The sub-committee heard from the public representations who highlighted the following:

·                They had been living at a premises nearby for at least 22 years and it was a very desirable and peaceful location.

·                One of the public representations ran a holiday park and had tenants and even with these activities, it was still a quiet location.

·                If the premises were to become an outdoor music venue, the licence was very open ended and music could be played all day, every day, between 11.00 am and 11.00 pm and they and others would feel totally imposed upon.

·                There were 10-11 homes in the hamlet near to the proposed venue and one of the public representations live across the narrow county lane.   There was also a nursing home nearby.

·                Outdoor music, whether in small or large crowds, would not be subdued in tone.  Guests would also be wanting to hear, dance and shout as well.

·                There had been a small amount of outdoor music in the past and the noise did carry.  

·                Complaints had not been made in the past because the outdoor music had only been occasional.

·                If the licence was granted, the music would still penetrate and vibrant indoors as well which would be an unjust endurance.

·                The Herefordshire Council Statement of Licensing Policy 2020/25 was referenced as it stated ‘Herefordshire is a mixed commercial and residential area with many areas lying in tranquil rural surroundings , whose amenity Herefordshire Council has a duty to protect and one of Herefordshire Council’s aims is to protect and enhance our environment and keep Herefordshire a great place to live.’

·                The applicant was normally a good neighbour

·                The application was for live and recorded music and would also permit alcohol to be served.

·                Guests to the premises should have a nominated driver and they will driving due to the location.

·                There was no indication of a maximum capacity or what the dispersal arrangements would be.

·                The premises were a discontinued nursery and the application was incongruous with the original use.

·                There was no sound attenuation in place.

·                Herefordshire Council receives over 1,000 noise complaints a year.

Following a query from a member of the sub-committee, one of the public representatives indicated that the site was outdoors so sound attenuation may not possible.  From previous experience, events had been audible inside with the windows closed as well as outside.

The sub-committee then heard from the applicant:

·                The concerns raised in the public representations about hours were understood.

·                They were trying to make the business more efficient and would like to be able to serve food with alcohol.

·                Covid-19 was testing everyone and there was a need to diversity a little.

·                They had run the ECHO festival in the past which was for people with special needs.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 116.