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Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Council Offices, Monkton Park, Chippenham, SN15 1ER. View directions

Contact: Lisa Pullin 

Items
No. Item

1.

Election of Chairman

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

Minutes:

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

 

Resolved:

 

To elect Councillor Ian Thorn as Chairman for this meeting only.

2.

Apologies for Absence/Substitutions

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

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllr Gavin Grant (substitute).  Cllr Peter Hutton was substitute in his place.

3.

Procedure for the Meeting

The Chairman will explain the attached procedure for the members of the public present.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

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 – 12 of the Agenda refers).

4.

Chairman's Announcements

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

Minutes:

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

5.

Declarations of Interest

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

 

Minutes:

There were no interests declared.

6.

Licensing Application

To consider and determine an application for a variation of a Premises Licence in respect of The Waterhouse Hotel, 5 Waterhouse Lane, Monkton Combe, Bath, Wiltshire, BA2 7JB, made by Simon Wilsher.  The report of the Licensing Officer is attached.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Application by Simon Wilsher for a Variation of a Premises Licence at The Waterhouse Hotel, 5 Waterhouse Lane, Monkton Combe, Bath

 

Jemma Price (Public Protection Officer – Licensing) introduced the purpose and scope of the application, the premises to which it related and the key issues for consideration.  Jemma highlighted the following:

 

·        This was an application for a variation to the Premises Licence which was granted on 22 October 2013 in respect of the Waterhouse Hotel, Waterhouse Lane, Monkton Combe, Bath;

 

·        The application proposed to remove/amend one of the additional conditions imposed at the original Hearing, in order to permit the sale of alcohol to “passing trade” on a Saturday and Sunday between the hours of 11:00 and 00:00;

 

·        Thirteen relevant representations were received – nine from local residents and one from Monkton Combe Parish Council in objection to the application.  Their representations were made over concerns about public nuisance and public safety – in particular with the use of the lane leading to and from the hotel.  Three representations were in support of the application; and

 

·        During the consultation period, the Applicant amended the application further to restrict the hours from the requested 11:00 to 00:00, to permit the sale of alcohol to “passing trade” on a Saturday and Sunday between the hours of 12:00 and 19:00.  

 

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 Mr Simon Wilsher (Applicant) were:

 

·        If the hotel did not find ways of increasing their revenue then they would cease to be viable.  In the last 12 months, a large number of hotel bedrooms had opened in and around Bath and as a result Waterhouse occupancy had reduced by 20% and may drop further this year;

 

·        In order to remain viable the hotel had looked at other ways of raising revenue and it had been suggested by people who came to stay at the premises and also by some local residents that they would like the opportunity to be able to visit and call in for a drink/food over the weekends;

 

·        Waterhouse’s vision was to be a place of rest, recreation and restoration.  They also provided employment for 15 people, brought money into the local economy, supported local business start-ups, sponsored young entrepreneurs and provided holiday jobs for young people;

 

·        They were the fourth family in 400 years to own Waterhouse – the risk was that if things continued they would have to sell and the legacy would not continue and the premises could be taken over by someone who had less interest in its history and importance to the local area;

 

·        They took over premises when it was a failed care home and restored the Georgian building retaining many of the original features.  The Applicants had no intention of disturbing the peace for their neighbours and had not received any complaints about noise in the 10 years that they  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.