Agenda and minutes

None.

The procedure the Licensing Panelwillfollowin considering the application is set outin the Licensing Act2003,its attendantRegulations and was agreed by the Licensing Committee on 2nd February2005.  The Licensing Panel,in accordance with rule 14 of the Licensing Act2003 (Hearings)Regulations 2005 decide to exclude the public fromallorpartof the hearing where the Licensing Panelconsiders thatitis in the public interestto do so.

None.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2022 were agreed as a correct record and were signed by the Chairman.

Introduction and outline of the report

Jon Bryant, Senior Licensing Officer introduced the report for the Panel to determine an application for a Premises Licence pursuant to Section 17 Licensing Act 2003 made by Loungers UK Ltd for the grant of a Premises Licence at Unit E, Queens Walk, East Grinstead, RH19 4DW.  Seven Interested Parties, who either live at or are connected to the flats had made representations on the grounds of the Prevention of Public Nuisance.  The Panel were asked to determine the application in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, MSDC Licensing Policy and the Home Office Guidance issued under Section 182 Licensing Act 2003, whilst having due regard to the applicant’s submissions and relevant representations.

The Senior Licensing Officer advised Loungers Ltd are a national chain with over 170 outlets and the application is for a café/bar at Unit E, one of the commercial units on the ground floor of a block of flats known as Elizabeth House on Queen’s Walk.  He noted that two of the Interested Parties had withdrawn their representations following a meeting with Loungers Ltd where revised opening times were agreed.  The initial application was for the supply of alcohol 10:00 – 23:59 hours Monday to Sunday, together with Late Night Refreshment 23:00 – 00:30 hours Monday to Sunday. The licensable activity was amended to the supply of alcohol on and off the premises Monday to Sunday 10:00- 23:00.  Therefore the Panel were asked to disregard the representations in the report made by Anna Coster and Karen Offord. He confirmed the application had been correctly advertised at the site and in the East Grinstead Courier.  

The Senior Licensing Officer summarised the unresolved representations made by the Interested Parties, reiterating that the opening hours had been amended since the representations had originally been received, not all of the Interested Parties had responded when notified of the revised hours.  He highlighted that live and recorded music is not regulated entertainment and any issues for noise from live music or construction works would be dealt with under the relevant legalisation by the Environment Protection Team.  He advised the Panel to disregard any comments in the representations that were not relevant to the application, these included references to individuals’ leases and comments that a bar would not be permitted under the flats, noise from building works, live music, and table and chairs outside the premises.  As a Responsible Authority the Fire Service had been consulted but not made a representation.   Following representations by the Police and Environmental Protection Team the applicant offered further conditions to address their comments and these have been agreed and were listed in Appendix 4.He highlighted a condition offered by the applicants if they did decide to have table and chairs outside the premises.

The relevant representations made by the Interested parties were:

Aaron McDonald was concerned that for those living in the flats above the premises the late serving of alcohol would cause problems of increased noise when customers enter  ...  view the full minutes text for item LS.4