Councillor Sandra Campbell-Wardman was duly nominated and upon being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED

That Councillor Sandra Campbell-Wardman be elected Chairman of the Licensing Sub-Committee for this Meeting only.

COUNCILLOR SANDRA CAMPBELL-WARDMAN IN THE CHAIR

At this point in the meeting, Members were invited to declare any relevant interests.  None were received.

Those present were noted.

Report of Group Manager Public Protection.

A report was submitted by the Group Manager Public Protection which enabled Members to consider an application for a premises licence in respect of The Blind Tiger Bar, 1-2 Pawnshop Passage, Mercer Row, Louth, LN11 9JQ.

The Principal Licensing Officer outlined the options available to the Committee, page 1 of the report refers.

The Sub Committee Members were asked to consider the application for a premises licence whilst having regard for the representations made by two local residents.

Mr Michael Kheng who was representing the applicants was invited to make his representation to the Committee.  Members were advised that the applicants were applying for a new premises licence, with the opening hours up to 11pm from Sunday to Thursday and up to 1am on a Friday and Saturday which they did not consider to be excessive.  It was confirmed that they would be operating within those hours and may not be open until 11pm every night. 

Mr Kheng referred Members to a tabled plan which identified 13 local premises and included information on their live and recorded music hours and the hours in which alcohol was supplied.  It was pointed out to Members that one of the premises was licenced for live and recorded music and the supply of alcohol until 4am seven days a week.  However, it was highlighted that it did not operate at those hours and closed at midnight from Sunday to Thursday and at 1am on a Friday and Saturday.

Members were advised that the Police and ELDC Environmental Health were not objecting to the application, and they were referred to point 9.12 in the amended guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003.

Mr Kheng outlined the two representations that had been received, the first being from Ms Wendy Becker, pages 21 to 22 of the report refer.

Members were informed that Ms Becker had referred to the neighbouring Wetherspoons pub seven times in her letter, with some of the information being factually incorrect and not specific to the Blind Tiger Bar.

The second representation was from Mary Abbott, the mother of local resident Emily Farrar, pages 23 to 24 of the report refer.

Mr Kheng pointed out that there were two emails from Mary Abbott, the first outlining the potential problems relating to the new licence and the second was advising him that her daughter, Emily, would now be dealing with the licensing issue however, it was confirmed that no correspondence had been received from her in relation to this.

Mr Kheng stated that he strongly disagreed that customers of the Blind Tiger Bar would use the area behind the two properties as they would have to go out of their way to access this.

Members were referred to photographs of the properties concerned and their location in relation to the Blind Tiger Bar which confirmed that there were no windows overlooking the parking area that was referred to in the correspondence.

Mr Kheng further informed Members that the objection stated that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.