Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

Resolved:

To elect Councillor Allison Bucknell as Chairman for this meeting only.

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”.

There were no announcements.

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

To determine an application for a variation of a Premises Licence in respect of the Crown & Anchor, Crowood Lane, Ramsbury, SN8 2PT made by Mr Raymond Penny.

Application by Mr Raymond Pennyfor a Variation of a Premises Licence: Crown & Anchor, Crowood Lane, Ramsbury, Marlborough, SN8 2PT

The Licensing Officer, Helen Hould, introduced the purpose and scope of the application, the premises to which it related and the key issues for consideration. In particular it was noted the application had been amended following representations and meetings with the parish council. In total seven representations in objection had been withdrawn from the initial application.

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

Key points raised by Raymond Penny, applicant, and Ian Smith in support of the Applicant were that the intention of the variation was to permit more flexible use regarding the use of music and sale of alcohol, not that music would be performed every evening. The extension to the garden area was only to allow people to legally drink there, not hold events, the lack of which had been an oversight of the previous landlord. It was stated the community was forefront in the mind of the applicant, and there was no evidence to support allegations of poor behaviour linked to the operation of the current licence that would be worsened if the variation was granted, and other licensed properties in the area had even later hours permitted.

Key points raised by Paul Segal in objection were that the location was not suitable for operation of such late hours, that the current hours were appropriate and warnings had been given due to the playing of music outside licensed hours in the past year. Management of noise and numbers of patrons was not good, and conditions had not been taken seriously.

Key points raised by Sheila Glass, Parish Councillor, were that the parish council were nor formally in support or objection, but had held meetings to discuss the objections that had been raised and attempted to facilitate a compromise suitable to all.

The parties were given the opportunity to ask questions of the Applicant, those who made a Relevant Representation and Wiltshire Council Officers.  Clarity was sought on the number of likely events with regulated entertainment, management of patrons, noise levels and mitigation measures that would be put in place.

The Sub Committee members sought clarification on further points, and after summary statements from those making representations and the applicant, retired 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 1100.

The Hearing reconvened at 1130.

Following the deliberations of the Sub Committee Members, the Solicitor for the Council confirmed no specific legal advice had been given in the closed session.

Resolved:

The Eastern Area Licensing Sub Committee has resolved to grant the variation of the Premises Licence in respect of the Crown & Anchor, Crowood Lane, Ramsbury, Marlborough, SN8 2PT, as detailed below: