Meeting documents

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUS): that Councillor Marsh?be appointed chairman for the meeting.

There were no apologies reported.

There were no declarations of interest declared.

The panel considered an application for the variation of a Premises Licence submitted under section 34 of the Licensing Act 2003. This application was in respect of Much Hoole Village Memorial Hall, 94 Liverpool Old Road, Much Hoole.

With the permission of the panel and in accordance with the council?s hearing procedure the Licensing Enforcement Officer introduced the application.

During the course of the proceedings, the Licensing Enforcement Officer referred to the mandatory conditions (Annex 1) and the volunteered and agreed conditions (Annex 2) by the Management Committee since the panel?s agenda papers were circulated.

The applicant (representatives of the Management Committee), then addressed the panel and questions were asked. A local resident objecting to the application then addressed the panel and questions were asked.

Having fully considered the representations (written and oral) made by local residents and the application made by the applicant, the panel retired to reach its decision.

In reaching its decision the panel took into account the following:

? both written and oral evidence presented in connection with the hearing

? Licensing Act 2003

? S182 Amended Guidance of the Licensing Act 2003

? South Ribble Borough Council?s Licensing Policy

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUS): that the application to vary the premises licence as applied for be as set out below.

The panel ?

1. noted the applicant provides a service to the community; which is not available in the vicinity. This service brings the community together.

2. observed that there had been noise issues raised by Mr & Mrs Scott in the past (4-5 years ago) and the Management Committee had made every effort to address the issues raised by the objectors. No further complaints have since been made to the applicant. The objectors were agreeable for more frequent events to take place at the Hall.

3. noted that there were no representations made by any other Responsible Authority such as the Environmental Health Team or the Police, in respect of noise problems.

4. nevertheless, noted the information provided by the objectors in respect of music being heard at night during the summer months, when events were on. Further, the panel had also been informed that there was an ageing population in that area. Therefore, the panel were of the view that although a number of conditions had been volunteered by the applicant, further conditions had to be imposed to redress the balance.

The panel?s decision was to grant the variation, subject to the mandatory conditions and the volunteered and agreed conditions, as noted and?at Annex 2 (as set out below) of the schedule, by the Management Committee ?

?ANNEX 2- CONDITIONS CONSISTENT WITH THE OPERATING SCHEDULE

1. The premises shall operate a Challenge 25 Policy which shall be clearly advertised at the venue.

2. CCTV will be installed and operating whenever licensable activities are being provided, no later than 20th December 2015.
The system shall have the capacity to store unedited recordings for a minimum of 21 days.

3. An incident book shall be kept at the premises and used to record any incidents or complaints, along with details of any remedial action taken.

4. The premises shall operate a house policy in respect of children which shall be prominently advertised at the venue.

5. External noise monitoring shall be undertaken whenever Regulated Entertainment is being provided and appropriate action taken to reduce noise levels if necessary.?

However, the panel were of the view that it was necessary and proportionate to promote the licensing objectives, to also impose the following conditions:-

1. No alcohol is to be consumed outside the village hall premises after 23:00hrs.

2. No outdoor regulated entertainment after 23:00hrs

The panel were also minded to recommend that a designated smoking area be established away from the snooker hall.

The panel were of the view that the volunteered and imposed conditions will address the issues raised, however, the panel also understood that the granting of the variation would benefit the community.