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LICENSING AND REGULATORY SUB-COMMITTEE

RECORD OF DECISION

(THE PEACOCK HOTEL, 221 CREWE ROAD, WILLASTON)     

3RD AUGUST 2007

Present:                                           

Councillor T E Ankers         

Councillor J A Beech

Councillor R E Dodd   

Advisory Officers:

Ms R Allen              Committee Advocate

Mr N Kelly               Environmental Health Officer    

Mr A C Lee              Legal Advisor

Miss D Moulson       Democratic Services Officer

In Attendance:

Ms H Audsley           Orchid Pub Operations Ltd   

Mr G Riding              Peacock Hotel                                               

Mr H Andrews           Representing the objectors 

                                            

21        APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR         

RESOLVED: That Councillor J A Beech be appointed Chair for the meeting.     

 

22        DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made in respect of any item of business on the agenda. 

 

23        APPLICATION            

The Sub-Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Environment and Development which provided details of an application by Orchid Pub Operations Ltd to vary the premises licence for the Peacock Hotel, 221 Crewe Road, Willaston.       

23.1    The license granted originally to The Spirit Group in 2005 provided for the sale of alcohol and the provision of entertainment each evening of the week until 1.00am, with the premises closing at 2.00pm; the hours to be extended by one hour on bank holiday weekends and on patron saints’ days. 

23.2    A number of conditions had been imposed on the license.  The applicant sought the removal of the following condition in order to enable customers in the premises to go outside to smoke, smoking no longer being lawful within the enclosed part of the premises -                  

The beer garden/outdoor drinking area shall be closed to patrons by 23.30 hours. 

23.3    The Legal Advisor outlined the application for the Sub-Committee.  Members noted that the Environmental Health Service had requested that the following two conditions be attached to the Premises licence, if granted:

(a)   No music to be played in the outside drinking area

(b)   With the exception of the Nantwich Jazz Festival weekend, the only outside drinking area to be used between 23.30 hours and the closing hour of the premises is the paved area immediately to the front of the premises   

No objections had been received to the application from the Police.  

It was reported that 3 local residents had objected to the application and copies of their letters were enclosed with the report submitted.  The representations had been made under the licensing objective of the prevention of public nuisance.       

23.4    The Sub-Committee was invited to determine the application having regard to the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and the four licensing objectives -                     

·        Prevention of crime and disorder

·        Public safety

·        Prevention of public nuisance

·        Protection of children from harm

23.5    Ms Audsley presented the application. 

Although the licence permitted the Public House to remain open until 2am, Ms Audsley informed the Sub-Committee that the usual trading hours for the premises were 11pm midweek and 12 midnight at weekends. 

The applicant was proposing that the paved area immediately in front of the public house would form the limit of the smoking area enabling regular checks to be made by staff.  It was considered that this approach, together with the erection of appropriate signs would prevent customers being displaced onto the public highway and would address the residents concerns relating to noise disturbance.            

23.6    Ms Audsley answered questions from the Committee Advocate by way of clarification. 

23.7    Mr Andrews representing the objectors stated that his letter had not raised objections to the application per sea but had expressed concerns in relation to the way in which the application had been advertised, the potential for an increase in noise disturbance and the possibility of increased vandalism in the area.   

23.8    The Committee Advocate asked questions of Mr Andrews by way of clarification.                             

23.9    The Committee Advocate summarised the key points which had emerged.                       

23.10  The Sub-Committee asked further questions of Ms Audsley by way of clarification. 

23.11  The Sub-Committee, together with the Legal Advisor, withdrew to consider the application. 

23.12  Having reached a decision, the Sub-Committee re-convened the meeting and informed the applicant and those present of its decision. 

23.13 Decision

RESOLVED:

(A)       That the application to vary the premises license be granted to Orchid Pub Operations Ltd in respect of the premises at The Peacock Hotel, 221 Crewe Road, Willaston.   

(B)       That the variation of the licence be subject to the following conditions -

(a)       No music to be played in the outside drinking area;            

(b)       With the exception of the Nantwich Jazz Festival weekend, the only outside drinking area to be used between 23.30 hours and the closing hour of the premises is the paved area immediately to the front of the premises; and

(c)        No food or drink to be taken into or consumed in the paved area immediately to the front of the premises after 23.30 hours.       

 

23.13  Reasons for the Decision                

(a)               The Sub-Committee considered that the representations made by the interested parties would be addressed by the conditions attached to the licence by Environmental Health and a further condition imposed by the Sub-Committee.    

(b)             The Sub-Committee took into account –

-          The Council’s Licensing Policy and the Licensing Objectives

-          The report of the Executive Director Environment and Development summarising the application

-          The written representations made by the local residents

-          The evidence given by the applicant present at the hearing

-          The evidence given by the interested party present at the hearing   

 

…………………….…………………….  Chair