Agenda item

Decision:-

That the application for conversion and variation to a premises licence in respect of The Rose Castle, Trent Road Grantham be granted for the following hours for the sale of alcohol, provision of regulated entertainment and provision of entertainment facilities:-

11:00 to 00:00             Monday to Thursday

11:00 to 01:00 Friday & Saturday

11:00 to 22:30             Sunday

New Years Eve:    10:00 New Years Day

And subject to thirty minutes drinking up time, and subject also to the following conditions:-

1.                  CCTV be installed and operated during opening hours and tapes retained for no less than twenty-eight days.

2.                  Outside areas cease to be used by 22:30hrs for all purposes.

3.                  Non-standard timings be removed.

The Committee had before them the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing’s report ENV294 in relation to an application for conversion and variation to a Premises Licence in respect of The Rose Castle, Trent Road, Grantham. A full copy of the application was attached at appendix 1, including a map of the premises. The application had been remitted back from the Magistrates’ Court for further consideration by the Committee. The representations from Lincolnshire Police were attached at appendix 2 and a copy of the minutes from the 19^th September 2005 was attached at appendix 3.

The Committee Support Officer introduced the application and clarified the names of the representatives from The Rose Castle.

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 reasons why the application had been remitted back from the Magistrates’ Court. The Committee were advised that although they had heard the application previously, the hearing should be conducted as if it was the first hearing of the application. He reminded members of the Committee that one letter of representation had been received from the Lincolnshire Police. In the period from August 2004 to August 2005, 15 incidents had been recorded at the Rose Castle, 5 of which had been recorded as crimes. Issues raised by the police included the attempt to circumnavigate the need for temporary event notices, lack of door stewards where live entertainment is provided after midnight, the installation of CCTV cameras and the retention of tapes and an outside area being used for licensable activities.

The applicants stated their case, highlighting issues in relation to the use of CCTV and the fact that there had been no incidents to which the police were called since the Licensee had taken over. Members of the Committee questioned the applicant on matters related to CCTV. Clarification was sought as to whether there was an outside area in which licensable activities took place; the applicant stated that there was none. The applicant added that no objections had been received from any members of the local community. The applicant had amended the time for the cessation of the sale of alcohol on a Friday and Saturday to 01:00.

In summing up, the Environmental Health Manager reminded the Committee of the number of incidents that had been reported there and reminded them of the police’s concerns. By way of conclusion, the applicant stated that if any interested party was unhappy with the way the premises was run, they would be able to call for a review.

The applicants and officers left the meeting.

The Committee considered the application and it was proposed and seconded that the licence should be granted for the amended hours requested and subject to the conditions previously applied. On being put to the vote, this was agreed.

The applicants and officers returned to the meeting and were advised of the decision as noted above. The Committee Support Officer also advised the applicants that any interested party could request the review of the Committee’s decision at any time if any issues connected with the application arose in the future.

10:30 – 10:49  The meeting was adjourned.