To receive any apologies from Members.

Apologies were received from Councillors Payne, MacCartney, Blanksby and Wilson.

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any disclosable interests under the Code of Conduct and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive Report No.68/2023 from the Strategic Director of Places – deferred from the meeting on 27 April 2023.

The Chairman introduced the parties in attendance and the procedure to be followed.

Darren Dolby, Licensing Officer for Peterborough City Council and Rutland County Council introduced the report, he confirmed that representations had been received from three local residents, he also highlighted that no representations had been received from any of the responsible authorities.

The licensing officer highlighted to Members that the application was a variation to the premises licence for Bills Bar. The application was to extend the premises licensable area and to amend and add conditions to the licence. There was no application to extend timings for licensable activities at the premises.

Amanda Usher, on behalf of the applicant presented the applicants case to the Committee and answered questions from Members.

All interested parties were given the opportunity to address the Committee and answered questions from Members. Concerns were raised predominantly around noise disturbance experienced by the local residents who had made representations. 

All parties present were then given the opportunity to sum up their positions and make any final comments.

The Committee received legal advice from the Legal Adviser to the Committee in the presence of all those present and were advised of the options available to them in making their decision. The Committee were also advised of the relevant policy and statutory guidance that needed to be taken into account when making their decision.

At 8.45pm the Committee adjourned to consider its decision.  It reconvened at 9.16pm where the Legal Advisor advised all present of the Committee’s decision.

RESOLVED

Having listened to all the evidence and submissions from the residents who made representations and the representative of the Licensee, and having read and considered all of the documentary material before it, the Committee agreed to take the following steps under section 35(4) of the Licensing Act 2003 on this application for a variation of the Premises Licence for Bill’s Bar, Oakham.

To GRANT the application to vary the existing premises licence subject to the additional conditions set out in the application for a variation, modified as follows:

·       All tables and chairs in the outside consumption area shall be removed from the area no later than 11pm each day..

·       No bottles will be emptied into external waste receptacles between 11pm and 10am.

·       Only the in house sound system to be used after 11pm.

REASONS

The members were concerned to hear of the issues, predominantly noise disturbance experienced by the local residents who had made representations.  They were satisfied that the premises licence holder is taking steps to work with residents and is implementing measures, some of which are reflected in the modified conditions of the licence, to prevent noise nuisance. The applicant said that he was agreeable to his contact number being shared with residents to enable any issues to be reported to him as they happen so that they can be dealt with immediately.