Agenda and draft minutes

The Sub-Committee comprised of Councillor Maddocks (Chair), Councillor Gardner and Councillor Bradley.

The Legal Adviser was Daniel Spencer, Solicitor. 

The Democratic Support Officer was Stephen Metcalfe.

Also present was David Eglin, Licensing Officer, the applicant Mr Neil Gazzard (Operations Manager for Punch Taverns) and the Solicitor acting on behalf of the applicant Mr Piers Warne.

Members were asked to determine an application to vary a Premise Licence under Section 34 of the Licensing Act 2003 submitted by Punch Taverns Ltd, Jubilee House, Second Avenue, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 2WF. The hearing was necessary following representations being received by a responsible authority, namely Lancashire Constabulary.

The Sub-Committee carefully considered the report by Licensing Officer, together with all written information before it, the Councils own Statement of Licensing Policy and the representations and views expressed at the hearing by the Licensing Officer and Mr Neil Gazzard (Operations Manager for Punch Taverns) and the Solicitor acting on behalf of the applicant Mr Piers Warne.

The application was to increase the hours of licensable activity for indoor sporting events, live and recorded music and the sale and supply of alcohol on Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 02:00 hours. Likewise, the opening hours of the premises would extend to 02:30 hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

During the 28-day statutory consultation period the Council received notification from a Responsible Authority namely PC 2338 Andrew Taylor of Lancashire Constabulary that mediation had taken place with the Solicitor acting for the applicant in respect of the crime prevention licensing objective. The police wished to see more robust conditions contained within the operating schedule of the premise licence to satisfy the crime & disorder licensing objective than those originally offered by the applicant in their application. Following discussions between the Police Licensing Officer and the solicitor acting on behalf of the applicant agreement was reached to include additional conditions within the premise licence in respect of crime prevention to the satisfaction of both parties.

DECISION

The Sub-Committee listened carefully to the representations from the applicant. Importantly it has also taken into consideration that there were representations received from Lancashire Constabulary; however, following the applicant agreeing additional conditions being attached to the licence they no longer objected to the application. There were no other objections from Responsible Authorities or interested parties.

The Sub-Committee are of the opinion that it was proportionate and appropriate to grant the application, which was to incorporate the conditions agreed between the applicant and Lancashire Constabulary. 

In accordance with Section 181 and Schedule 5 of the Licensing Act 2003, the parties have a right of appeal against this decision.