Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Lloyd Briscoe, Lynda Guy, Robin Parker, Claire Parris, Ellie Plater, Tom Plater, Ceara Roopchand and Tom Wren.

To approve as a correct record of the minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 October 2025.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 22 October 2025 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

The Committee considered an objection to four temporary event notices served by the Tenant of The Royal Oak PH, Walken Road, Stevenage.

The Council’s Licencing Officer introduced the report to the Committee outlining the matter to determination which included four identical Temporary Event Notices (TENs) for events commencing on 12 December, 19 December, 26 December and 31 December 2025. Each notice proposed a live band in the main bar and sports bar areas, running from 7:00pm until 1:00am, with a capacity of 110 people. The events required authorisation of the sale of alcohol on and off the premises, regulated entertainment and late-night refreshments.

The Licencing Officer advised that the notice had been accepted as valid by the Licensing Authority on 26 November 2025, but objections had been received from Environmental Health in relation to all four notices.

It was noted that the Environmental Health Officer’s primary concern was that granting the TENs would disapply the existing public nuisance safeguards contained in the current Premises Licence, thereby failing to promote the licensing objective of preventing public nuisance.

Members were informed that the Premises Licence Holder, McMullen & Sons Ltd, had recently applied for and been granted a minor variation to the premises licence on 17 November 2025. This variation introduced tighter noise control measures in response to reports from local residents.

The Licencing Officer advised that the Committee may decide to:  

• allow the licensable activities to proceed as set out in the notices.

• to impose one or more of the existing premises licence conditions on the Temporary event Notices (TENs), insofar as those conditions are not inconsistent with the proposed events; or

• conclude that the events would undermine the licensing objectives and therefore should not take place, in which case a counter notice may be issued.

The Chair then invited Environmental Health to present their case.

The Environmental Health Officer highlighted key points from their evidence, noting that the Royal Oak had a long history of noise complaints. The premises was located close to residential properties and was not designed for amplified music.

It was noted that the Environmental Health Officer had discussions with the Premises Licence Holder, which resulted in a minor variation being granted on 17 November 2025. Shortly after, the Officer received further complaints that key conditions were not being complied with.

The Officer visited the premises on 25 November 2025, and noted the manager was unaware of the new licence. Officers noted improvements shortly after and acknowledged that the manager had taken steps to introduce outdoor monitoring.

The Committee were informed that by granting the TENs, this would remove the licencing conditions during the event periods, which would undermine recent progress. Therefore, the Officer submitted objections on the grounds of preventing public nuisance and public safety. In regard to public safety, it was noted that by granting the TENs this would also temporarily remove key licence controls, including the 130-person capacity limit, and would allow up to 499 people on site, which would significantly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

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.