Agenda and decisions

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

There were no declarations of interest.  However, the Chair (Councillor Maureen McKay) announced that, prior to the meeting and as was customary, she had received a briefing on the application from Licensing Officers.  The Environmental Health Officer who had objected to the application had also been present for much of this briefing.  The Chair advised that the discussion with the Environmental Health Officer had only been in relation to the content of the objection set out in the published agenda papers and that she had not pre-determined her view on the application.  Upon being asked, the applicant confirmed that he was content for the Councillor McKay to continue to participate in and Chair the meeting.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2021.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 2 December 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair, subject to the removal of the names of Councillors Doug Bainbridge and Jody Hanafin being removed from Minute 1 – Apologies for Absence, and also the addition of the name of Councillor Graham Snell to the list of those Members who had submitted their apologies for absence for the meeting.

To note the Terms of Reference for the Committee, as agreed by the Annual Council Meeting on 25 May 2022.

The Committee considered its Terms of Reference, as approved at the Annual Council Meeting held on 25 May 2022.

It was RESOLVED that the Committee’s Terms of Reference be noted.

To determine an application for a Temporary Event Notice for Ritty’s Place, 6 Baker Street, Old Town, Stevenage.

The Committee considered a Temporary Event Notice in respect of a proposed event on Saturday, 6 August 2023 at Ritty’s Place, Baker Street, Stevenage.

The Committee considered the report from the Licensing Officer and heard verbal submissions and evidence from SBC Environmental Health and the Premises Licence Holder, 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 the application for a Temporary Event to be held at Ritty’s Place between the hours of 12:00hrs and 23:00hrs on Saturday, 6 August 2022 be refused, and that a Counter Notice be issued thereby preventing the unlicensed activities contained in the Temporary Event Notice from taking place.

REASON FOR DECISION: Having heard representations from SBC Environmental Health and the Premises Licence Holder, the Committee noted that the Premises Licence Holder had offered to terminate the amplified music at 22:00hrs, to coincide with the finish of the Old Town Live music event.

However, the Committee was mindful that the premise is in a noise sensitive area surrounded by residential accommodation.

The Committee was of the view that the submitted proposal for the playing of amplified music inside and outside of the premise would constitute an unacceptable level of noise in the vicinity of the nearby residential properties to the extent that it would undermine the prevention of public nuisance licensing objective.

Furthermore, the applicant had failed in his duty to secure from Hertfordshire County Council the requisite pavement licence to allow the outdoors activity applied for to take place lawfully.

In addition, the Committee was not confident that the applicant would be able to take the noise controls required to comply with the Temporary Event Notice.

To consider any Part 1 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.