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 Pip Ridout as Chairman for this meeting only.

The Chairman welcomed all those present and introduced all officers and members of the public in attendance.

The Chairman explained the procedure to be followed at the hearing, as contained within the “Wiltshire Licensing Committee Procedural Rules for the Hearing of Licensing Act 2003 Applications” (Pages 1 – 6 of the Agenda refers).

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 Marston’s PLC in respect of Land North of Cranesbill Road, Melksham.

Application by Marston’s PLC for a Premises Licence at Land North of Cranesbill Road, Melksham, Wiltshire.

The Licensing Officer introduced the purpose and scope of the application, the premises to which it related and the key issues for consideration. She informed the members that Melksham Without Parish Council would withdraw their representations if conditions to incorporate external CCTV covering the terrace was applied.  

In accordance with the procedure detailed in the agenda, the Applicant was given the opportunity to address the Sub Committee. No persons who had made a relevant representation or Responsible Authorities were in attendance.

Key points raised by Michelle Hazlewood, Solicitor for Marston’s PLC, on behalf of the Applicant were:

·               No representations from Responsible Authorities had been received.

·               The applicant had experience in the in the industry and worked closely with those who made representations to resolve any issues.

·               The core element of the business was food and not alcohol.

·               Recorded music would be used for the ambience only.

·               The applicant was willing to stop playing music externally at 8pm.

·               To tackle underage drinking the applicant has training in place and a price structure to deter under age drinking.

·               To tackle rowdy departures the applicant has applied for extended hours to cover the holidays and bank holidays which will encourage a drift out approach rather than all being pushed out at the same time.

The Sub Committee members sought clarification on some points before retiring to consider the application and were accompanied by the Solicitor for Wiltshire Council and the Democratic Services Officer.

The Sub Committee then retired to consider the application at 11:10am.

The Hearing reconvened at 11:30.

The Solicitor for the Council, did not give any material legal advice.

The Sub Committee considered all of the submissions made to it and the written representations together with the Licensing Act 2003, Statutory Guidance and Regulations and the Licensing Policy of the Council.

Resolved:

The Western Area Licensing Sub Committee has resolved to grant the

application for a Premises Licence Marston’s PLC at Land North of Cranesbill Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, be granted as detailed below