Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Rob Broom, Nazmin Chowdhury, John Duncan, Liz Harrington, Chris Howells, Graham Lawrence CC, Lin Martin-Haugh, Andy McGuinness and Claire Parris.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 January 2023.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 12 January 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To note the procedure for the hearing of Licensing applications.

All parties noted the revised procedure for the hearing which had been circulated at the meeting.

To determine an application for the variation of a Premises Licence for The Tranquil Turtle, Symonds Green Lane, Symonds Green, Stevenage SG1 2HP.

The Committee considered an application for the variation of the premises licence relating to the Tranquil Turtle, Symonds Green Lane, Stevenage.  Representations in respect of this application had been made by the SBC Planning Department (Responsible Authority), SBC Environmental Health Department (Responsible Authority), and ten members of the public living in the vicinity of the application site.

The Licensing Officer presented a report to the Committee outlining the facts of the variation application.

The Licensing Officer advised that the variation proposed an amendment to the layout, in accordance with the submitted plan.  The main changes included new fencing, temporary scaffolding (including a cover over part of the external area), reconfiguration of the external area to include the external (drinks) servery, fixed seating, and the locations of fire equipment.  There were no proposed changes to the hours of operation nor the hours during which licensable activities could take place.

The Licensing Officer stated that the Premises Licence currently in place permitted licensable activities, including the sale of alcohol and the playing of recorded music, to take place both inside the premises and in the outside area.  As a result of the de-regulation of the Licensing Act 2003 by the Live Music Act 2012, no permission/licence was required for a performance of amplified live or recorded music between 08.00hrs and 23.00hrs on any day on a premises authorised to sell alcohol for consumption on those premises, provided that the audience did not exceed 500 people.  Therefore, any existing licence conditions which related to live or recorded music remained in place, but were suspended during these times.

The Licensing Officer explained that The Tranquil Turtle had been subject to multiple complaints relating to noise and public nuisance over the last 6 months.  On 7 August 2022, the premises held an Ibiza music event outside which went on until 23.00hrs.  Twenty noise complaints were received by Environmental Health and licensing from residents and Noise App recordings were provided.  Both Licensing and Environmental Health officers visited the premises on 10 August 2022 to remind the Tenant and his team of their duty to promote the four licensing objectives as, although they had been working within the conditions and timings on their licence, they had not sufficiently managed the noise levels for this event.  The Licensing Team was aware that calls were made to the Police regarding the noise levels at the event.

The Committee was informed that Licensing and Environmental Health officers had visited the premises again on 13 October 2022, following the receipt of multiple complaints from local residents with regards to an outside music event which was held on 8 October 2022.  Reports were received from residents living ¼ mile from the premises complaining of excessive noise, and some residents expressed concerns that the premises was operating beyond the remit of its licence, stating that the music had continued outside until 01.30hrs.  The Tenant confirmed that guests were taken inside at 23.00hrs and that entertainment had continued inside.  He said that customers were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

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.