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 interest in respect of items on the agenda.

To consider an application for a grant of a premises licence in respect of Wye Lounge, 39 High Street, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 5HD 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. Also contained in the supplementary information: supplementary information from the applicant (published on 20 March); supplementary information from Environmental Health (published on 25 March); the additional information from the applicant’s agent (published on 25 March); and email correspondence between the applicant’s agent and the local authority on 25 March regarding the Environmental Health representation (published on 25 March).

Prior to making their decision the Council’s Licensing Officer presented the report which outlined the options available to the sub-committee. Two representations had been received from the responsible authorities; Trading Standards and Environmental Health had proposed conditions which had been accepted by the applicant. Three relevant public representations had been received.

The sub-committee heard from the public representatives that:

·         Loud music and disruption had been experienced on the nights of 16 and 24 February 2024 when the Wye Lounge had a temporary licence. This had an unacceptable impact upon residential amenity.

·         Disruption had included the congregation of youths outside the venue drinking, shouting and fighting.

·         The Wye Lounge was not a night club and there was no reason for a 2 a.m. licence for music.

·         Live music should cease at 11:00 p.m., Sunday – Thursday and midnight, Friday – Saturday with an extension to 1 a.m. for New Year ’s Eve.

The sub-committee then heard from the applicant’s representative that:

·         The applicant had operated similar venues in the area without any problems with police, neighbours or responsible authorities;

·         The current application could only be refused if there was evidence that the application would undermine the licensing objectives. No credible evidence had been provided by objectors to the application to prove that the licensing objectives would be undermined.

·         The applicant has accepted all conditions proposed by responsible authorities therefore the police had not made a representation on the application and no objections had been made by responsible authorities.

·         The representations of local residents were summarised and it was contended that no evidence existed to support the objections raised. It was stated that the sub-committee must apply evidence-based decision-making.

·         On Saturday16 February, one of the dates of the complaints regarding noise and disruption, it was confirmed that the venue had ceased to trade shortly after midnight and till receipts had been presented as evidence. Evidence in statements from other witnesses living nearby and above the venue explained that there was no disturbance emanating from the Wye Lounge.

·         On Saturday 24 February, the second date of the complaints regarding noise and disruption, it was confirmed that the venue closed just after midnight on Sunday 25 February. Closed circuit television (CCTV) recording provided evidence that showed a quiet and orderly dispersal of customers after closure.

·         Objections that the application would cause disturbance was fear and speculation that was contrary to evidence-based decision-making.

·         The application would not undermine the licensing objectives and had not received objections from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.