Agenda, decisions and minutes

It was proposed by Councillor Andy Soughton and seconded by Councillor Martin Lovell, that Councillor Tony Lock be appointed as Chair for this meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

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 )

There were no declarations of interest.

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

The Licensing Sub-Committee noted the procedure to be followed when considering Licensing Applications under the Licensing Act 2003. The Chair introduced the members of the Sub-Committee and the Officers present at the hearing.

To consider an application for the variation of a Premises Licence for New Inn, 1 Church Street, West Coker, Yeovil, BA22 9BD which has received relevant representation.

On having considered all the evidence and all the circumstances, the Sub-Committee granted the application to vary the Premises Licence as applied for.

The Licensing Officer explained that members were being asked to consider an application for the variation of a premises licence for the New Inn, West Coker.  The application sought authorisation for the premises to open from 10.30am each morning Monday to Sunday.  The current opening time was 11.30am.  The application also sought authorisation to be able to open and sell alcohol between 3.00pm and 6.00pm as the current premises licence required the premises to close between these times on Monday to Thursday.  On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the premises could open from 11.30am to half past midnight.  The Licensing Officer advised that a relevant representation was received from a member of the public raising concerns in relation to noise and disturbance as a result of increased opening times as well as concerns that all day drinking could lead to anti-social behaviour.  She referred to the representation mentioning a structure in the garden area and concerns that this could be used for the sale of alcohol.  In response, the applicant had confirmed that there would be a structure, but it would not be used for the sale of alcohol but this may take place in the future.  Members were informed that if the sale of alcohol were to take place in the future, a variation application would be required to add this to the licence and the applicant had been informed of this.

The Licensing Officer advised that further information had been received in support of the application in the form of letters from local residents.  This information had been provided to all parties.  A reply had been received from the other person who had commented that the local residents did not necessarily live close to the premises and consequently would not be affected by the noise from the premises.  Members noted that the other person was not able to attend the hearing but their written representation had been received and noted.

The Licensing Officer concluded that she had received satisfactory evidence that the applicant had complied with the regulations requiring the application to be advertised.

The applicant commented that she had not received the separate response received from the other person.  The Licensing Officer read aloud the full comment that had been received in response to the letters.  She clarified that the letters had been given without any personal information such as names and addresses.  The full versions were however given to members of the Sub-Committee, so they were aware of the proximity of the supporters to the premises.

In response to a question, members were informed that the variation licence had been in place since 2013 and the premises had also been licenced for many years before then.

The applicant was invited to address the Sub-Committee.  She explained that the premises was a small hotel with six rooms as well as being a pub with a function room.  The licencee had a lot of experience and had been managing the premises for seven months.  She considered the application  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.