Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

Resolved:

To elect Councillor Peter Hutton as Chairman for this meeting only.

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

There were no apologies or substitutions.

The Chairman notified all those present at the meeting that it was not being recorded by Wiltshire Council, but that the meeting could be recorded by the press or members of the public.

The Chairman reminded those present that any speakers that wished to remain and make a statement to the Sub Committee would be giving consent to there being the possibility that they would be recorded presenting this.

It was noted that those that had made a representation would not be identified by name within the minutes (other than those representing public bodies and Responsible Authorities).

The Chairman then asked if anyone present wished to withdraw from the meeting.  All parties confirmed they wished to remain in and take part in the Sub Committee hearing.

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 5 to 10 of the Agenda refers).

The Chairman gave details of the exits to be used in the event of an emergency.

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

To consider and determine an Application for a Premises Licence made by the Trustees of the Winterbourne Monkton Community Centre,  in respect of The Community Centre, Church Lane, Winterbourne Monkton, Swindon.  The report of the Public Protection Officer (Licensing) is attached.

Application by the Winterbourne Monkton Community Centre Trustees for a Premises Licence in respect of The Community Centre, Winterbourne Monkton, Swindon 

Licensing Officer’s Submission

The Sub Committee gave consideration to a report (circulated with the agenda) in which determination was sought for an application for a premises licence presented by Teresa Isaacson (Public Protection Officer – Licensing) for which three relevant representations had been received (two of those representations living at the same address).  The application was for the following licensable activities:

·       Exhibition of films (indoors only)

·       Sale by retail of alcohol (on sales only)

It was noted by the Sub Committee that there were four options available to them:

1.    Grant the application, subject to such conditions as are consistent with those included in the operating schedule submitted with the application, modified to such extent as the Sub Committee considers appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives, together with any mandatory conditions required by the Licensing Act.

2.    To exclude from the scope of the application any licensable activity.

3.    To refuse to specify a person as the Designated Premises Supervisor.

4.    To refuse the application in whole or in part.  

The Public Protection Officer (Licensing) gave details of the appeals procedure for the parties following a decision made at the Sub Committee hearing.

The following parties attended the hearing and took part in it:

On behalf of the Applicant

·       A Trustee on behalf of all Trustees of the Winterbourne Monkton Community Centre

Relevant Representations

·       Representation 1 (from two local residents who reside at the same address) in objection to the application

·       Representation 2 (from a local resident) in objection to the application.

The Chairman advised that the written representations had been read by the members of the Sub Committee in advance of the meeting. The Chairman then invited the Applicant to introduce their application.

Applicant’s submission

A Trustee on behalf of the Winterbourne Monkton Community Centre spoke in support of the application, highlighting the following points:

·       That the purpose-built premises had opened in December 2022 with a Premises Licence was being applied for in the main to allow them to be able to provide and run a bar at the premises.  This would then give them to ability to raise funds to support the centre and make it a more attractive hiring opportunity for local groups and other events such as parties, variety evenings, funeral wakes, weddings and baptisms etc; and

·       They intended to run local events such as talks, bingo, show sporting events and be available to support the village and other local groups as a facility.

Sub Committee Member’s questions

In response to the Sub Committee Members questions to the Applicant, the following points of clarification were given:

·       The hiring of the community centre would not be restricted to local people, so far it had been used for children’s parties and used by the village club that meets monthly and by the Church;

·       There was a limited catchment area for the village and there was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.