Agenda, decisions and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the meeting of the Sub Committee.

Nominations for a Chairman of the Licensing Sub-Committee were sought and it was

Resolved:

To elect Councillor Trevor Carbin as Chairman for this meeting only.

Cllr Carbin in the Chair

To receive any apologies for absence and to note any substitutions.

Apologies were received from Cllr Robert Yuill, who was substituted by Cllr Leo Randal.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

To consider and determine an Application for a Premises Licence by Keystone Entertainment Ltd in respect of 18, High Street, Amesbury, Wiltshire, SP4 7DN. The report of the Public Protection Officer (Licensing) is attached.

Application by Keystone Entertainment Ltd for a Premises Licence at 18 High Street, Amesbury, SP4 7DN

The Licensing Officer, Hannah Hould, introduced the purpose and scope of the application, the premises to which it related and the key issues for consideration.

·       No responsible authority had made a representation in objection.

·       Additional door security had been agreed as part of the Environmental Health request.

In accordance with the procedure detailed in the agenda, the Applicant, the Responsible Authorities and those who had made a Relevant Representation were given the opportunity to address the Sub Committee.

Key points raised by Steve Cox on behalf of the Applicant (Nathan Muirhead) were:

·            Appropriate practices would be in place to minimise the risks

·            A public meeting had been held, they had listened to feedback and realised that it would be a challenge to have a nightclub.

·            The applicant then changed the type of business to a multi-use facility.

·            The focus would be on the cocktail bar element of the venue, the premises would not be dominated by loud music and a dance floor, there would be music but it would not be dominant.

·            Purpose of the business was to bring together people to socialise, similar places included the Cathedral Hotel, and Yoyo bar.

·            The whole proposal should be considered and not to dwell on the cocktail bar element or let it over shadow the rest of the facilities planned.

·            Cocktail bar will be the main revenue maker.

Those who had made representations presented their views:

Mr Cox, local resident, lives 200m to proposed venue:

·       He supported the application, as he felt it would help to protect home town by further business erosion.

·       Town should encourage the right type of investment.

·       On 16 December the Salisbury Journal advertised the vacant premises, there were no takers for Amesbury shops. To entice people they offered low rent but there was still no take up.

·       Amesbury needs new blood and investment. Keystone are offering the chance to start that happening. Cocktail bar and musical entertainment offered here to attract tourists.

·       Keystone are listening to the local community and changing their original proposal, sympathetic to the objections, but put in place a comprehensive list of actions to mitigate the concerns.

·       As a family man, want children to grow up thinking Amesbury is a great place to live.

Questions from the Panel:

• When showing films, what size audience are we looking at? Answer: Fire regulations state no more than 150 seated.
• Was there a necessity for the cocktail bar for revenue, and how would late night drinking reduce the trend for shops shut in Amesbury? Answer: Our town needs to bring in more new investment. With the local military, and the increase in soldiers coming back to Amesbury, but also officers, they enjoy highbrow entertainment, bringing more people into the local community generally.
• Why do you want the licence to start at 8am? Answer: Other establishments have a similar flexibility, just there to accommodate extra events. Happy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.