To elect a Chairman for the hearing.

Councillor JW Hope MBE 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 a premises licence in respect of the Zane Restaurant, 9-13 St Owen Street, Hereford, HR1 2JB.

The Regulatory Sub-Committee was convened in order to determine an application for a new premises licence in respect of Zane Restaurant, 9-13 St. Owen’s Street, Hereford. The application was submitted in accordance with Section 51 of the Licensing Act 2003.

The Chairman introduced the Members and Officers and asked any interested parties to introduce themselves. He advised them of the hearing procedures and asked if any party required an extension to the 10 minute time limit for public speaking, no extensions were requested.

The Licensing Officer presented the report and advised Members that a copy of the applicant’s advertisement had been seen.

In accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005, PC Jim Mooney, representing West Mercia Police, addressed the sub-committee. He advised Members that the police authority had requested a number of conditions in order to address concerns both inside and within the exterior licensed areas of the premises.

In response to a question regarding non standard timings, Andrew Chadd, the applicant, confirmed that the non standard timings for New Years Eve had been removed from the application.

Dr Carol Caldwell, a neighbouring resident who had made a representation in respect of the application, addressed the sub-committee. She expressed her concerns in respect of possible noise disturbances from the premises if a terminal hour of 0200 was permitted. She also felt that live music until 2230 was unacceptable within a conservation area. She advised Members that she was pleased that the premise was reopening as a restaurant.

In response to the points made by the local resident, the applicant advised that he was happy to amend the application to a terminal hour of midnight from Sunday to Thursday. He also advised that he was happy to remove live and recorded music from the application as the only music required for the premises would be background music.

The Licensing Officer expressed concerns that the premises had been operating without a licence as no Temporary Event Notices had been granted since the Christmas period.

The applicant confirmed that he was happy to liaise with local residents if there were any concerns arising from the management of the premises.

The Sub-Committee retired to make their decision, the Senior Litigator and the Democratic Services Officer also retired to assist them with procedural matters.

RESOLVED

That the application for a variation to the premises licence in respect of Zane’s be approved subject to the conditions detailed in the attached decision notice.