Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Lloyd Briscoe, Alistair Gordon, Lynda Guy, Robin Parker, Ellie Plater, Tom Plater, Ceara Roopchand, Carolina Veres and Tom Wren.

To approve as a correct record of the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 December 2025.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 9 December 2025 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To note the procedure for the hearing of licensing applications and reviews.

It was RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference be noted.

To determine a Temporary Event Notices applied for by the Tenant of The Royal Oak PH, 24 Walkern Road, Stevenage.

The Committee considered an objection to a temporary event notice (TEN) at The Royal Oak PH, Walken Road, Stevenage.

The Council’s Licencing Officer introduced the report outlining the matter to determine a TEN for New Years Eve (31 December 2025) at 11pm and finishing at 1:30am on New Years Day (1 January 2026).

It was noted that the TEN would allow for a DJ in the main and sports bar area and would provide the authorisation of the sale of alcohol on and off the premises, regulated entertainment and late-night refreshments.

Officers noted that the TEN for this event referred to adopting conditions currently included in the Premises Licence.

The Chair then invited Environmental Health to present their case.

The Environmental Health Officer highlighted key points from their evidence and noted the long history of noise complaints from the Royal Oak. This was due to both the music from the venue and patrons outside. The premises was located close to residential properties and was not designed for amplified music.

The Environmental Health Officer noted that his involvement with the premises began in January 2025, when it was considered that the Premises Licence and operating schedule contained inadequate conditions.

It was noted that the Officer, Premises Licence Holder and McMullen & Sons Ltd had discussed a variation to the Premises License which was submitted and approved to introduce tighter controls.

The Environmental Health Officer explained that shortly after this a complaint was received regarding non-compliance with the new conditions, and following a site visit from the Officer, the manager at the time confirmed they were unaware of the updated conditions. It was noted that attempts at compliance were observed on later visits.  

The Environmental Health Officer referred to the previous TENs considered by the Committee, which included an event for New Years Eve, where a counternotice was served. The Committee was advised that the current application did not seek to disapply the Premises Licence conditions and did not overlap with the licence as previous TENs had.

The Committee noted an update from the Officer on matters arising since the previous Committee meeting held on 9 December 2025. The Officer explained that they had written to Mr Gould who was the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) on 17 December 2025 explaining that under Section 106 of the Licensing Act 2003, he could propose a modification to the TENs to mitigate perceived risks.

The proposed modifications would have restricted regulated entertainment to what was already permitted under the Premises Licence, while allowing the sale of alcohol and late-night refreshments after 11pm. The Environmental Health Officer stated that their proposal was rejected.

The Officer further advised the Committee that an additional complaint had been received relating to the use of the outdoor space during the weekend of 19 December 2025.

The Environmental Health Officer explained that the Premises could support regulated entertainment, but required careful management due to its location and structure, and noted that the conditions must be implemented in practice to promote the Licensing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

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

There was no Urgent Part I Business.

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.

It was RESOLVED:

1.    That under Section 100A 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 Paragraphs 1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.    That the reasons for the following reports being in Part II were accepted, and that the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

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

There was no Urgent Part II Business.