Agenda and minutes

Councillor Chris Farr was elected Chair of the meeting.

During the consultation process following Arcana’s original application for a premises licence, Arcana had agreed to the following concessions in response to objectors’ representations:

·           reduction in hours for alcohol sales from midnight to 22:00; and

·           withdrawal of late-night refreshment.

Of the original five representations, one was not deemed relevant and three were resolved, leaving one remaining objection at the time of the hearing.

The Sub-Committee heard from Kelly Van Zanten, Natalie Williamson and Charlie & Rebecca Pilkington who spoke in support of the application, including the following comments:

·           it was intended to create a pleasant hospitality venue for families to enjoy

·           the bar had been operating for six weeks (via Temporary Event Notices) without incident

·           Kelly Van Zanten had been running Arcana Bars for two years without incidents

·           the business model for the operation at Long Acres was geared towards minimising the scope for anti-social behaviour, including a Challenge 25 regime and no marketing initiatives which could encourage binge drinking

·           the bar couldn’t be relocated on the site without compromising the business model

·           if the bar became too noisy, both Arcana and the site owners would take remedial action.

All relevant written submissions were considered.

In response to Members’ questions, the speakers confirmed that:

·           the relationship between Arcana and the co-owners was purely business orientated

·           a high proportion of visitors walked to the bar which minimised the risk of drink driving 

·           there was no CCTV on the site

·           there was one single entrance / exit point.

In their summing up statements, Natalie Williamson read out recent reviews written by visitors to the bar and Charlie Pilkington reiterated that any future noise issues would be addressed. 

The hearing closed at 6.55pm and the Sub-Committee, accompanied by Lidia Harrison and Vince Sharp, retired to the Jack Farrell Room consider its decision.

The Sub-Committee had due regard to:

1.       The provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 which confer the powers of the Licensing Authority to deal with the application.

2.       The obligation to promote the four licensing objectives.

3.       The relevant sections of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and Statutory Guidance.

The Sub-Committee acknowledged that it:

·           must carry out its functions with a view to promoting the four licensing objectives, as set out in Section 4(2) of the 2003 Act; and

·           cannot take account of representations which do not relate to one or more of those licensing objectives and that any representations must be relevant and evidenced-based.

The decision of the Sub-Committee was that:

“Having considered the evidence presented within the document pack and at the Hearing, including the Applicant’s efforts to address the concerns of residents during the consultation period, the Sub-Committee is satisfied that the licensing objectives would not be compromised by granting the licence, subject to the conditions agreed by the applicant in response to representations. The application is therefore agreed on that basis.”