Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Myla Arceno, John Duncan, Bret Facey, Liz Harrington, Chris Howells, Graham Lawrence CC and Andy McGuinness.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 3 August 2022.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 3 August 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To note the procedure for the Hearing of Licence Applications.

All parties noted the procedure for the meeting which had been circulated with the agenda.

To determine an application for the variation of a Premises Licence for Chickaros Chicken and Grill, 59 High Street, Stevenage. SG1 3AQ. Responsible Authorities, Hertfordshire Police and The Local Planning Authority have made representations against this application.

The Committee considered an application for a variation to the premises licence in respect of Chickaros Chicken and Grill, 59 High Street, Stevenage SG1 3AQ.

The Committee considered the report from the Licensing Officer and heard verbal submissions and evidence from Hertfordshire Constabulary representatives, the SBC Planning Department, the SBC Environmental Health Department and the Premises Licence Holder and Manager of the premises, following which all parties were requested to leave the meeting whilst the Committee determined the application.  At the conclusion of that process, all parties were invited back into the meeting to hear the Committee’s decision.

It was RESOLVED that the application for a variation of the premises licence for Chickaros Chicken and Grill, 59 High Street, Stevenage be refused.

REASON FOR DECISION:  Having heard representations from Hertfordshire Constabulary, the SBC Planning Department and the SBC Environmental Health Department, the Committee was not satisfied that the application would promote the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder and prevention of public nuisance.

The applicant had admitted that on two occasions the existing licence conditions had been breached.  The Committee had concerns that further breaches could occur in the future and that there was very little evidence that the applicant would be able to adhere to the licensing conditions if they were extended.

The Committee had no confidence that the premises would be operated in accordance with the hours proposed in the variation application.  The applicant was reminded that there may be occasions when premises licences can be revoked due to persistent breaching of licensing conditions. However, this did not preclude the Premises Licence Holder from making further variation applications in the future.

The Premises Licence Holder was reminded that there was a right of appeal to the Magistrates Court against the above decision.  Such an appeal would need to be submitted to the Magistrates Court within 21 days of receipt of the Committee’s decision letter.

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.

To consider the following motions –

1.  That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.  That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Not required.

To consider any Part II Business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.