Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor Simon Carswell was appointed as the Chair for this meeting of the Sub Committee.

To receive any apologies for absence.

None

To receive and note any declarations of interests in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.

(The other registrable interests of Councillors of Somerset Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: City, Town & Parish Twin Hatters - Somerset Councillors 2023 )

None

To authorise the Chair of the meeting to agree the accuracy and sign the minutes as a correct record following circulation to the members of the Sub-Committee.

The Sub Committee agreed to authorise the Chair of the meeting to agree the accuracy and sign the minutes as a correct record following circulation of the minutes to the Sub Committee members.

Noted.

The Sub Committee on a majority vote GRANT the application for a Premises Licence as applied for together with the Conditions that the Applicant has agreed with the Police and the conditions it has offered up through the Operating Schedule.

Prior to hearing submissions, the Chair announced that in terms of the proposed running order, the Applicant would be invited to present his case immediately after the Licensing Officer. As there were no representations from Responsible Authorities, the Other Persons would then be invited to submit their cases.

The Licensing Officer was invited to introduce the report. The report stated that Cosy is a small size café. The premises has undergone renovation. The licensable area covers the café only with off sale to cover the seating area in front of the building.

The premises is a single story detached property located a few minutes’ walk from the town centre. The building operates as a café during the day and there is a single entrance to the front public dining area. The building is set back from the road with an outside seating area directly in front of the building which is intended for use as consumption for off sales.

The applicant has applied for a premises licence in order to sell alcohol on and off the premises as detailed below.

Conditions

During the representation period agreement was reached between the Applicant and the Avon and Somerset Constabulary as to conditions to be attached to the licence, with the Applicant also offering conditions through the Operating Schedule. The agreed conditions and those offered up by the Applicant are all set out at Appendix 3 to the agenda papers.

No representations were received from any Responsible Authority.

Representation had been received from Other Persons, Rachel Delaney, Crewkerne Town Council and two other residents.

There had been 9 representations in support received. 

The applicant was invited to address the committee.

Jason Moore advised the Sub-Committee that he and his wife have opened a small café business. His wife has worked in the hospitality for many years and wanted to open her own business. The building was in disrepair and they have refurbished and opened it up as a café. They have put a lot of work into the business and wanted to make the business a little more upmarket than just a café. They have no interest in an all-day drinking establishment. There is no gambling machine, Television, or jukebox within the property. They have no beer pumps and no cellar. They are applying for a premises licence to sell alcohol such as wine, high end bottled beers and limited selection of spirits, such as a glass of fizz with afternoon tea or a G&T with Olives. They only plan to open the premises for four-hours on the days they have applied for Wednesday to Friday 17:00hours to 21:00hours. The hours applied for on a Saturday being 11:30hours until 21:00 hours but will only open for four hours of the day and the time will depend on the event taking place. The intention for a Saturday is for flexibility to run either a lunch or afternoon  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.