To elect a Chairman for the hearing.

Councillor P Jones CBE was elected as Chairman for the Regulatory Sub-Committee hearing.

To receive apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were received.

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

There were no substitutes present at the hearing.

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

There were no declarations of interest made.

To consider an application for variation of the premises licence in respect of the Castle Lodge Hotel, Wilton, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 6AD.

The Sub-Committee were required to hear and determine an opposed application for a new premises licence for The Castle Lodge Hotel. The Chairman introduced the Sub-Committee and Officers and confirmed that all Members had received the background papers. He then asked any interested parties attending the hearing to make themselves known. Mr Felices and Mr Backhouse, the applicant and his legal representative, advised the Chairman of their wish to address the Sub-Committee in support of the application. Mr and Mrs Staight, and Mr Tait, three of the local residents who had made representation in respect of the application were also present to address the sub-committee. The Chairman asked all of the parties present if they required an extension to the 10 minute allocated time allowed for public speaking. They felt that 10 minutes would be acceptable and no requests for an extension to the time limit were made.

The Licensing Officer presented his report to the Sub-Committee and confirmed that the applicant had agreed to all of the conditions recommended by the Environmental Health Officer excluding conditions 2.1 and 2.2.

In accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 Regulations for Hearings, Mr Staight and Mr Tait, two of the local residents who had made representation in respect of the application, spoke in objection to the application. They advised the sub-committee that the premise was in close proximity to residential dwellings and they felt that granting the licence would result in noise disturbance to local residents. They felt that the licence should be granted for the month of December only and should also be restricted to permit licensed activities until 0100 only.

In accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 Regulations for Hearings, Mr Backhouse, the applicant’s legal advisor, spoke in support of the application.

The Regulatory Sub-Committee withdrew from the meeting to make their decision. They requested that the Legal Advisor and Democratic Services Officer accompany them to offer legal and procedural advice.

RESOLVED:

That the application for a variation to the premise licence in respect of The Castle Lodge Hotel, Wilton, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 6AD, be granted subject to the conditions outlined in the attached decision notice.