Agenda and minutes

None, all Members were present.

Members are requested to indicate at this stage in the proceedings any items on the agenda in which they intend to declare an interest. Members are reminded that if the interest is a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (as defined in the Members’ Code of Conduct) they must leave the room for the whole of that item. If the interest is not a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, but is such that a member of the public could reasonably regard it as being so significant that it is likely that it would prejudice their judgment of the public interest (as explained in the Code of Conduct) then they may make representations, but then must leave the meeting for the remainder of the item.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Panel considered for determination an application for a new Premises Licence under section 18 of the Licensing Act 2003. The application was in respect of the Weavers Arms, 2-4 Spinners Square, Bamber Bridge.

Representations were made by three Responsible Authorities, the Planning Section and Environmental Health Department of South Ribble Borough Council and the Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service. There were also eleven representations made by Other Persons.

Director of the Spinners Square Limited, Alan Burdett and Lee Forshaw who had submitted the application were also present at the meeting. Mr Burdett present the case for the applicant.

At the outset it was confirmed that the application had been amended by letter on 17 July 2018. The amended application before the Panel was now in respect of seeking permission to sell alcohol by retail between the hours of 1 10am and midnight Sunday to Thursday and 10am to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. The amended application also sought to exclude the offering of recorded music and the provision of making music, which had been applied for on the same terms as the sale of alcohol.

With the permission of the Panel and in accordance with the Council’s hearing procedure the Head of Licensing outlined the application.

The applicant, then addressed the Panel. As part of his representations the Panel were provided with three large photographs to support their application at the meeting. Questions were asked.

The representation received from the council’s Planning Team was read out to the Panel and an officer from its Environmental Health Team addressed the Panel. Both objected to the application and questions were asked. A number of local residents objecting to the application also 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

The Panel had concerns in relation to noise and felt that the acoustic assessment did not address the issues of the whole of the premises. They were also of the opinion that the reduction of hours, restricted times for the use of the outside area and any additional sophisticated noise conditions as mentioned in the S182 guidance and the Council’s statement of Policy would not addressed these concerns.

If the Applicant, Responsible Authorities or any person having made a relevant representation was dissatisfied with the outcome of the hearing, then they may challenge the decision of the Panel by making an appeal to the Preston Magistrates Court within 21 days on receipt of this decision.

RESOLVED: (UNANIMOUS)

To refuse the application for a new premises licence for the Weavers Arms, 2-4 Spinners Square, Bamber Bridge PR5 6EQ for the following reasons:

1.    The panel considered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.