To further consider an application, which was previously deferred, for the grant of a premises licence in respect of the ‘Steiner Academy, Hereford, HR2 8DL’.

Note:

The determination of the application was adjourned at the meeting of 16 October 2012 pending further discussions in respect of suitable conditions.

All representations from interested parties were considered at the original meeting and no further discussion on the application will take place.

Attendees are requested to bring a copy of the report of the previous meeting with them, further copies of the report will be made available at the meeting if required.

The Regulatory Sub-Committee had been reconvened from 16th October 2012 [minute 9 of 2012/13 refers] in order to consider further an application for a new premises licence in respect of the Steiner Academy, Hereford, HR2 8DL.

The Chairman introduced the Members and Officers.  There were no interested parties present.

The Chairman then read out the following statement:

1.         This meeting is to further consider an application - which was previously deferred - for the grant of a premises licence in respect of the Steiner Academy, Much Dewchurch, Hereford.

2.         Since this Committee last sat on 16th October, Officers of the Council’s Licensing Team have put together a package of licence conditions which have been accepted by the Applicant Academy subject to any amendments required by the Members of this Committee today.

3.         This Committee is willing to hear comments from the Applicant or objectors [had they been present] relating to the wording of these conditions but I wish to be very clear that my colleagues and I have already heard representations from both sides and do not wish to re-open the hearing to re-consider the essential issues of this matter.

4.         I now turn to the subject of the letters forming part of the report to the last meeting which were extensively redacted.  There has been publicity over this and concerns raised.  The Committee and the Council have listened to these concerns and changes will be made.  I wish to be clear that full copies of these letters were made available to everyone no less than 30 minutes before the last meeting as is standard procedure.  I must also make it plain that the reason for these extensive redactions was to avoid objectors straying away from the 4 licensing objectives in their representations with the corresponding risk of the Committee’s Members making any decision for inappropriate reasons.

5.         The changes I referred to are that in future those parts of any letters attached as a representation which will be considered will be underlined while those which will not will not be marked in anyway.  This will permit the whole document to be read although it will not be considered by the Committee Members.  I must emphasis however that personal information in line with the Data Protection Act may be redacted if requested.  Such relevant legislation as shall be in force will be followed.

6.         I do hope that the above makes our position plain and acceptable to all.  My Committee simply seeks to give all parties who appear before us a fair hearing in accordance with legislation and the rules of natural justice.

The Team Manager (Licensing) reported that the proposed conditions had been agreed by the applicant and were presented for consideration by the Sub-Committee.  Furthermore, in response to concerns expressed by an objector since the last meeting, the applicant had agreed to remove Bank Holiday Mondays from the application.

A Committee Member noted that, at the previous meeting, an objector had raised a concern about noise emanating from the courtyard/garden during an event at the premises.  The Team Manager (Licensing) confirmed that proposed condition PN6 could be modified to ensure that ‘Any courtyard/garden shall not be used in connection with licensable activities’.

The Sub-Committee concluded that, with the removal of Bank Holiday Mondays from the application and subject to conditions [including the modified condition PN6], the application for a new premises licence was acceptable.

RESOLVED

THAT the new premises licence in respect of the Steiner Academy, Hereford, HR2 8DL be accepted subject to the conditions as set out in the attached decision notice.