Agenda item

Report ENV333 from the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing

(Enclosure)

(THE APPENDICES TO THE REPORT AT AGENDA ITEM 4 ARE ATTACHED FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS ONLY.  IF ANY OTHER MEMBERS WISH TO SEE THE SUPPORTING INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE HEAD OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND LICENSING)

Decision:-

That the application for a premises licence in respect of the Newage Sports and Social Club, Blackfriars Street, Stamford be agreed for the following hours for the sale of alcohol, Provision of Regulated Entertainment and Provision of Entertainment Facilities:-

11:00 to 23:00   Monday to Thursday

11:00 to 01:00   Friday to Saturday

12:00 to 23.30   Sunday

Non standard timings of 11.00am to 1.00am Christmas Eve and 11.00am to 2.00am New Years Eve for Live music, recorded music, dancing and supply of alcohol.

Premises to be open an additional 30 minutes each day after the last supply of alcohol (drinking up time).

Note – The applicants to continue to display signs at the exits to the premises asking the customers to leave the club and area quietly.

The Committee had before them the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing’s report ENV333 in relation to an application for the grant of a premises licence for the Newage Sports and Social Club, Blackfriars Street, Stamford.  A full copy of the application was attached at appendix one, including a map of the premises, and attached at appendix two were two letters of representation.

The Corporate Manager Democratic and Legal Services introduced the application and clarified the names of the representatives from the Sports Club.

The Chairman sought and received confirmation that all parties had received and understood the procedure to be followed.

The Environmental Health Manager introduced the report and outlined the application to the Committee and the representations that had been received.   He informed the Committee that the applicants had not included drinking up time and the application had been amended to include this.

Before presenting their case the applicants expressed concern about one of the letters of objection and the timeframe which in their opinion was out of time.  The Environmental Health Manager clarified the position with regard to the letter and the Corporate Manager Democratic and Legal Services stated that if the applicants required a formal determination of whether or not the letter was valid, the Committee would require the applicants to leave the Committee whilst they discussed if the letter was a valid representation or not.     The applicants declined the offer of the Corporate Manager Democratic and Legal Services and confirmed that they wished the application to proceed on the basis of the information before the Committee including the letter of representation.

The applicants stated their case informing the panel that the social club had been open 25years and they had had no problems during this time.  Although reference had been made in one of the letter to empty bottles being left outside houses it was difficult to tell whether they came from the social club as there were two nightclubs only 300 yards from the social club.  Also the back entrance to the club was only used on Mondays and Thursdays when a bingo session was held and it was easier for those attending to use the entrance without steps.  That entrance was closed at the end of the bingo session which was around 8.20pm.  Notices had been erected in the club asking those leaving to leave quietly.  As far as the applicants were concerned the main road was noisier than the club.  The Environmental Health Manager asked if they had received any complaints regarding noise to which the applicants replied that some had been received over the years but changes to activities had been made to accommodate this, also new double-glazing had been introduced.     Members referred again to the question of noise and clarification was sought regarding the location of those who had put representations in to which both the Environmental Health Manager and applicant replied.  Also clarification was sought to whether the activities would be external or internal, to which the applicants replied internal.

In summing up the Environmental Health Manager informed the Committee that the club had been in existence for a number of years and although Environmental Health Services had been involved the issues had been resolved.  No representations had been received from the statutory consultees and he ask that with the addition of the 30 minutes drinking up time the application be determined as it stood.

The applicants had nothing to add other than that the club had been in existence some 25 years and they had not had any major problems and tried to help the people of Stamford.

The applicants and officer then left the meeting.

The committee then considered the application and it was proposed and seconded that it be granted for the amended hours requested 11.00am to 11.00pm Monday to Thursday, 11.00am to 1.00am Friday and Saturday and 12 noon to 11.30pm Sunday subject to an extra 30 minutes drinking up time.  Also that the applicants continue to display signs informing those exiting the build to do so quietly.

The applicants and officers returned to the meeting and were advised of the decision as noted above. The Corporate Manager Democratic and Legal Services also advised the applicants that the committee’s decision could be reviewed at any time if any issues connected with the application arose in the future.