LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE 21st NOVEMBER 2005 Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee of Flintshire County Council held on Monday, 21st November, 2005 in County Hall, Mold, Flintshire. PRESENT: Councillor L.A. Sharps (Chairman) Councillors A.G. Diskin and M.G. Wright OFFICERS OF FLINTSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL County Secretary, Licensing Manager and Principal Administration Officer RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITIES - REPRESENTATIVES None were present APPLICANT Mr. Les Hughes INTERESTED PERSONS Councillor E.F. Evans on behalf of local residents 1. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS None were received 2. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT AND REGENERATION The Sub Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment & Regeneration which was presented by the Licensing Manager, in respect of an application for a premises licence at the Welsh Harp, Prince of Wales Avenue, Flint. 3. THE APPLICATION - The Welsh Harp, Prince of Wales Avenue, Flint The application was made by L.H. Taverns (NW) Limited. The premises were described as set back into the site and was in part a single and in part a two storey construction. This was partly in brickwork, partly blockwork which has been rendered and partly stone faced. It was beneath a pitched roof with slate to the two storey section and under flat roofs with rock asphalt covering to the single storey section. The premises had been operating normal hours of 11.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 10.30 p.m. on a Sunday. The proposed hours for the sale of alcohol were:- Sunday – Thursday - 11:00 - Midnight Friday and Saturday - 11:00 - 01:00 am Non Standard Timings included:- Bank Holiday Monday until 00.30 a.m. Christmas Eve until Midnight Boxing Day until 23.30 p.m. St. David’s Day until 00.30 a.m. No regulated entertainment was proposed. The proposed hours the premises were to be open to the public were the same as the proposed hours for the sale of alcohol. 4. BACKGROUND The application was advertised in the required manner. 5. PROMOTION OF LICENSING OBJECTIVES The steps the company intended to take were shown as Appendix 1 to the report. 6. REPRESENTATIONS BY RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITIES None were received. 7. REPRESENTATIONS INTERESTED PARTIES Representations had been received from persons living in the vicinity and were shown as Appendix 2 to the report. 8. NOTICES AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION The Licensing Officer confirmed that all relevant notices and supporting documents had been issued. 9. SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE/REQUEST TO CROSS-EXAMINE The Chairman asked the questions as determined in the procedure:- (a) The applicants confirmed that they had no additional information to submit. (b) The representatives of the interested parties indicated that they had no additional information to submit. (c) All parties requested the opportunity to cross-examine if necessary. The Sub Committee agreed to the request of the parties to cross-examine. 10. HEARING AND DETERMINATION OF THE APPLICATION The Chair advised that the Sub Committee would proceed to hear and determine the application by reference to the four licensing objectives and each party would be granted up to 20 minutes to exercise their rights. 11. FURTHER INFORMATION The Chairman asked the Licensing Officer to confirm whether or not there was anything further to add to the papers in front of the Sub Committee. He confirmed that there was not. 12. REPRESENTATIVE OF INTERESTED PARTIES Councillor E.F. Evans indicated that he would be speaking on behalf of local residents who had made representations regarding the application. The Licensing Manager confirmed that written confirmation had been received that Councillor Evans was the spokesperson of the persons concerned. 13. PRESENTATION BY APPLICANT Mr. L. Hughes the applicant, in making his presentation, indicated that the main purpose of the request for an extension of hours was to be competitive with other similar premises in the town that had been granted later hours. He also wished to take account of customer requirements. 14. REPRESENTATIONS BY INTERESTED PARTIES In making his comments Councillor E.F. Evans indicated that the Welsh Harp was unlike other premises in the town in as much as it was situated in the middle of a residential area. He felt that if late hours were granted it could have an adverse effect on properties within the vicinity because of an increase in noise which was more of a disturbance later in the night. He further suggested that as the premises were away from others in the town centre people who had been drinking in other establishments, in making their way home, would call at these premises much later when they may have had excess drink elsewhere and could cause disturbance. Whilst acknowledging the benefits of CCTV Councillor Evans felt that it did not have the same impact as it did in town centres because there was more of an immediate police presence. With regard to police issues generally Councillor Evans felt that at peak times, particularly in the summer months, police were called from town centres to deal with problems at holiday camps some miles away. Councillor Evans also commented upon his concern regarding the general principle of later hours of licensed premises but was advised that the comment had to be specific to the current application. 15. CROSS-EXAMINATION AND QUESTIONS In respect of the points raised the applicant, Mr. Hughes, indicated that the premises had not encountered any problems during the course of his ownership and he was in fact responsible for twenty-seven other establishments throughout the country and he did not encounter trouble in those areas. Mr. Hughes indicated his willingness to co-operate and confirmed that he was more than happy to install CCTV cameras and build an additional wall on the perimeter of the premises. He also suggested that the fact that the premises were in the middle of a residential area was beneficial and could provide facilities for local residents. The Chairman commented that there were no representations made by responsible authorities. He referred to other applications where North Wales Police and the Pollution Control Section had made representations regarding noise pollution or issues of social disorder. For this particular application no such representations had been received and he made it clear that the Sub-Committee could only take into account facts rather than supposition. Councillor E.F. Evans confirmed that there was no concrete evidence of fighting or disorder at the premises but was concerned that noise carried further late at night when the surrounding areas were more quiet. One local resident, Mr. Harmes, confirmed that he was aware of trouble in the area some time previously. 16. FINAL PRESENTATIONS (a) Interested Persons Making his final presentation Councillor E.F. Evans reiterated his concerns about the increase in consumption of alcohol generally and the anti- social implications that it could create. (b) Applicant Mr. Hughes, the applicant, reiterated his intention to put CCTV cameras outside the premises which he would monitor personally. He was prepared to install a direct line to the local taxi firms with a request that they come into the premises and ask for their clients rather than to sound their horns in the car park. He confirmed that there was a large car park which adequately served the premises. Mr. Hughes did not think that people would leave the town centre premises to call at his on the way home because a number of those places there provided entertainment. 17. DETERMINATION OF APPLICATION The Chairman adjourned the proceedings and asked all to leave with the exception of Committee Members, County Secretary and the Clerk. 18. DECISION The Sub-Committee agreed that the application be granted as follows:- (i) Supply of Alcohol Sunday to Thursday - 11.00 a.m. – 11.30 p.m. Friday and Saturday - 11.00 a.m. – 12.30 a.m. the following morning (ii) Closing Hours Thirty minutes after the above supply of alcohol times. (iii) Seasonal Variation/Non-Standard Timings Each Bank Holiday Monday, Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and St. David’s Day – 11.00 a.m. to midnight for supply of alcohol and the premises to close 30 minutes later. (iv) Noise and Disturbance CCTV cameras shall be installed to cover the outside of the premises. The tapes/discs shall be retained and be made available to the Police upon request. The outside areas shall be regularly patrolled to ensure that noise and disturbance is not affecting residents in the area. Direct lines shall be provided to taxi services and those taxi companies engaged shall be informed that vehicle horns must not be sounded for the purpose of alerting customers of their arrival. (v) Notices Prominent, clear and legible notices shall be displayed at all exits requesting the public to respect the needs of local residents and to leave the premises and area quietly. 19. REASONS (i) Permitted hours granted were appropriate to the nature and location of the public house. (ii) The willingness of the Licensee to provide CCTV at the premises. Approved Date Licensing Sub Committee-12.11.05(Welsh Harp) - 1128 -
