Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

None.

The minutes of the meetings held on 4 December 2014, 5 December 2014, 22 December 2014 and 3 March 2015 were agreed as a correct record.

It was confirmed that items marked Part 1 would be heard in public.

Two supplementary agendas had been issued which contained information that was relevant to the application for a variation of Premises Licence for the Horse and Barge, Moorhall Road.

The Licensing Officer, Ian Meens, introduced the report informing the Sub-Committee that the application was for a Variation of Premises licence in respect of the 'Horse & Barge', Moorhall Road, Harefield and the representations against the application received from a responsible authority and interested parties. 

An application to vary the premises licence for the 'Horse & Barge, Moorhall Road, Harefield' was submitted to the Licensing Authority on 6 February 2015 by 'Star Pubs and Bars Ltd' as the current premises licence holder.  The variation application requested to remove the condition requiring the garden to be cleared of all patrons by 22.00 hours to enable those customers choosing to smoke to be permitted to do so within an area controlled by management of the premises rather than on the public highway.

Mr Meen's clarified that the application was in 3 parts.  The first sought to licence the outdoor garden/patio area for licensable activity.  If agreed, the plan for the premises would need to be amended to reflect that licensable activity could take place in the outdoor garden/patio area.  The licence holder also sought to remove a condition that the garden/patio area must be cleared of patrons by 2200h.  Mr Meen's produced an enlarged map of the premises so that the Sub-Committee and parties to the hearing could clearly identify the areas affected by the application.

The legal advisor explained that anyone attending the premises could buy from the main building before 2200 hours.  If the conditions were to remain on sales, patrons would have to drink inside after 2200.  The only area licensed was the pub and outbuilding, not the garden.

Representation made by the Applicant

The applicant's legal representative, Mrs Cochrane, informed the Committee of the applicant's intentions behind the application to vary the premises licence.  The applicant understood that there had been serious issues associated with the premises in the past.  The Committee was informed the new applicant planned to run a family orientated food led pub.  The venue could be a thriving business and asset to the local area.

Objections received were made prior to the 2013 hearing in which representations were made by local residents concerning activity from the previous licence holder.  The new licence holder should be given a chance.  Mrs Cochrane highlighted that the Council did have the power to review the premises if there was any issue.  The activity of the premises in the past sounded like a nightclub which was not proposed by the new licence holder.  The only music proposed for the premises was background music. 

The applicant had consulted local residents and had joined the local resident association/committee.  There was no evidence that there would be any noise related issues.  Mrs Cochrane was clear that her client was capable of running premises and had been in the trade since 1989.  Additionally the applicant had received references from Warwickshire Police giving a good character reference, which was unusual.  The Police had highlighted that a clean drug swab test was conducted in a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.