Agenda and draft minutes

The Licensing Panel considered the appointment of a Chairman for the meeting.

Resolved:

That Councillor Hunter be appointed Chairman for the meeting.

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:-

(1) the type of interest concerned

(2) the nature of the interest concerned; and

(3) whether they have or have not sat on a Planning Committee which has previously considered a planning application in respect of a licensed premises which is also subject to consideration for a premises licence as part of the agenda for this meeting.

If any Member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

(Members are asked to also pay particular attention to the guidance sheet on interests supplied with the agenda).

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

The Chairman of the Panel will summarise the procedure and announce the equal maximum amount of time for each party to speak for the hearing.

A.         Items 1 and 4 (b) will be undertaken in private session by the Panel and not in the Meeting Room.

B.         Items 2, 3 and 4(a) will be recommended to the Panel to be held in public.

C.         The Panel may decide to exclude the public from all or part of a hearing where it considers that the public interest in so doing outweighs the public interest in the hearing, or that part of the hearing, taking place in public. (This includes a party and any person assisting or representing a party)

The Chairman explained the procedure for the meeting, including the order in which the applicant and representations would be heard, and that the decision of the Panel would be communicated by email within 48 hours.

To consider an application in respect of a new Premises Licence for JD Drinkwaters Ale House, 75 Highfield Road, Blackpool, FY4 2JE.

A. Application and representations submitted. To consider the attached report.

B. Determination of the application for a new Premises Licence – JD Drinkwaters Ale House.

The Licensing Panel will indicate how the decision is to be communicated to interested parties.

The Licensing Panel considered an application for a new Premises Licence for JD Drinkwaters Ale House, 75 Highfield Road, Blackpool.

Representations had been received from Mr A Ross and Mr J Ross who did not appear at the hearing but whose comments were considered by the Panel. Mr A Ross had given notice that he was unable to attend due to work commitments and invited the Panel to consider an earlier closing time than midnight as proposed in the application on Thursday to Sunday evenings as he believed this would address his concerns.

Mr James Drinkwater appeared on behalf of the applicant JD Drinkwaters Limited and addressed the concerns raised in the written representations. He assured the Panel that the proposed premises would be operated responsibly and drew Members’ attentions to the Police mediation agreement in which a number of conditions had been agreed with Lancashire Constabulary in respect of control measures for the premises.

In response to the suggestion that the premises should close earlier than midnight, Mr Drinkwater expressed the view that as other similar establishments in the vicinity already operated to midnight he felt this would cause him an unfair disadvantage. He did not believe the granting of the application would have an adverse impact on public nuisance by generating any additional noise and stated a desire to work with the authorities and local businesses to prevent any risk of anti-social behaviour.

It was confirmed that there was no intention to serve hot food or hot drinks at the premises and Mr Drinkwater therefore agreed that the provision of late night refreshment could be removed.

The Licensing Panel considered the application and representations and concluded that the hours applied for were suitable and in keeping with other premises in the area. It therefore agreed to grant the application for the sale of alcohol and playing of recorded music but to remove late night refreshment as a licensable activity.

Resolved:

That the application for a Premises Licence in respect of JD Drinkwaters Ale House, 75 Highfield Road, be granted for the sale of alcohol and the playing of recorded music subject to the conditions agreed with Lancashire Constabulary but that late night refreshment be removed as a licensable activity.