To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were not items of urgent business.

There were not declarations of interest.

The Chair of the Sub-Committee advised all present of the process of the

hearing. The Licensing Officer was invited to introduce the report as outlined within the agenda. Members were provided the chance to ask questions of the Licensing Officer. There were none.

The Sub-Committee then heard from the Environmental Protection Manager, who explained the Local Authority had received 57 noise complaints despite extensive attempts to engage with the Designated Premises Supervisor at the time. Following this a Noise Abatement Notice was served in March 2024 with officers witnessing three further breaches of noise nuisance after that notice had been served.  Environmental Protection therefore suggested the following conditions be added to the premises licence:

1.    All functions with amplified sound to be held in the premises function room.

2.    All doors and windows in the function room will remain shut during events to prevent the escape of noise and amplified sound.

3.    A noise limiting device should be installed in the function room.  All events with amplified sound should be powered through the noise limiting device with cut out levels agreed with EP Officers. 

The Sub-Committee then heard submissions from the Licensing Officer for Essex Police under the crime and disorder licensing objectives.  Concerns were raised of incidents being linked to the noise nuisance and it was noted that Essex Police would support measures being sought by Environmental Protection.

Members were provided the chance to ask questions of the Environmental Protection Manager and the Licensing Officer for Essex Police. There were none.

The Premises Licence Holder via their representative, Mr Taylor were then asked to present their case.  A statement of Mr Wright, Stonegate Group Director of Licensing, had been circulated prior to the meeting and therefore referred to by Mr Taylor. 

The Sub-Committee then heard that:

• The Premises License Holder did not dispute any information brought before Members.
• The premises in question was let to a tenant who operated their own business through a lease.  This was dependent on the premises being operated correctly and there were safeguards built into the lease so that if the tenant is not operating the premises correctly, they have an immediate right to terminate the tenancy.
• Mr Taylor continued to confirm that those are steps that have been taken in these circumstances, and the mismanagement of the previous tenant/ DPS was essentially the reason why this application is before a Licensing Sub-Committee. 
• The Licence Holder took accountability, accepted their errors and confirmed that further steps were being taken to address internal issues.

Mr Taylor confirmed the Premises Licence Holder agreed to the additional conditions sought by Environmental Protection and advised that they had taken steps prior to the hearing to engage with Environmental Protection directly and plans were on going to help promote the licensing objectives.

The Licensing Officer then provided a short summary to the Sub-Committee.

The Environmental Protection Manager and the Licensing Officer for Essex Police were then asked to give a summary of their cases.

The licence holder was asked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.