Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies for absence and no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record of the minutes of the previous meeting held on 20 January 2026.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 20 January 2026 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 four Temporary Event Notices applied for by the Tenant of The Royal Oak PH, 24 Walkern Road, Stevenage.

The Committee considered four objections to Temporary Event Notices (TENs) submitted for The Royal Oak PH, Walken Road, Stevenage.

The Licensing Officer introduced the report and outlined the matter to determine four TENS for the following dates:

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

Officers advised that the TENs sought to adopt conditions currently attached to the Premises Licence.

The Chair then invited the Environmental Health Officer to present their case.

The Environmental Health Officer highlighted key points from the submitted evidence and referred to the history of noise complaints relating to the premises. It was noted that the objection from Environmental Health was made on the grounds that the TENs would not promote the Licensing Objectives of the prevention of public nuisance and public safety.

The Environmental Health Officer advised that complaints had been received during 2026 relating to regulated entertainment and patrons congregating outside the premises. However, it was noted that Licensing and Environmental Health Officers had undertaken visits and observations and had identified no significant breaches.

In summary, the concern from the Environmental Health Officer was that the Premises Licence conditions and Licensing Objectives would not automatically apply to the TENs and would thereby be undermined.

The Chair invited all parties to ask questions to the Environmental Health Officer. There were none.

The Chair then invited Mr Gould to present their case.

The Committee then heard from Mr Gould the DPS on behalf of the applicant Park Valley Way Pub Company.

Mr Gould explained to the Committee that his TEN for an event on New Years Eve had been allowed to proceed with the Premises Licence conditions attached. He stated that there had been no complaints relating to that event.

Mr Gould also stated that he had a number of visits from the Council following up complaints, but the Premises had been fully compliant.

The Chair invited all parties to ask questions to Mr Gould.

In response to questions from Environmental Health, it was noted that the planned events would have a DJ in the main bar where the noise limiter was located.

The Chair then invited all parties to sum up.

Licensing Officers declined to provide a summary.

The Environmental Health Officer advised that while there were concerns about the TENs, these were at the lower end of the risk scale, especially as music from a DJ could be controlled by the noise limiter.

It was RESOLVED to permit the TENs to proceed subject to the imposition of all of the Premises Licence Conditions except paragraphs 1 and 2 from Annex 3. 

REASON FOR DECISION

The Committee considered all written and oral representations, the Licensing Objectives, the Council’s  ...  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.