Agenda and minutes

To elect a Member to act as Chair of the meeting.

RESOLVED:             That Councillor Merrett be elected as Chair of the meeting.

Introductions were carried out.

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

 To approve and sign the minutes of Licensing Hearing held on 29 April 2010

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the Licensing Hearing held on 29 April 2010 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Members considered an application by Ms H Heraty and Mr J Edwards for the determination of a Premises Licence in respect of Grays Court, Chapter House Street, York, YO1 7JH.

In coming to their decision, the Sub-Committee took into consideration all the evidence and submissions that were presented, and determined their relevance to the issues raised and the licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; and the prevention of public nuisance. The following were taken into account.

1.         The application form.

2.         The Licensing Officer’s report and his comments made at the Hearing. He advised that the application was for a premises licence for a Grade 1 listed building and that the venue already had a weddings licence and had been using Temporary Events Notices. He was satisfied that the blue public notices had been displayed satisfactorily and said that the applicant had agreed a number of conditions with North Yorkshire Police and the Council’s Environmental Protection Unit.

3.            Representations made by the applicant at the Hearing, including the fact that the venue would be marketed to a mature clientele and that the applicants are proud of the historical nature of the venue and would provide for events in keeping with the location. The applicant advised that properties nearby operate similar activities and felt that some of the objections had been exaggerated as the Council’s Environmental Protection Unit had not found any of the complaints warranted enforcement action.

4.         The representations made by a local resident in writing and by his Barrister at the hearing. The Sub-Committee considered the written representation to be relevant to the issues raised and the licensing objectives listed above as concerns were raised in particular, regarding noise nuisance.

5.         The representations made by local residents in writing. The Sub-Committee considered the written representations to be relevant to the licensing objectives listed above.

The representations made by North Yorkshire Police and City of York Council’s Environmental Protection Unit had been withdrawn prior to the Hearing after the applicant agreed to a number of licence conditions.

Having regard to the above evidence and representations received, the Sub-Committee considered the steps which were available to them to take under Section 18(3) of the Licensing Act 2003 as it considered necessary for the promotion of the Licensing Objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety and the prevention of public nuisance. 

The Committee considered the following four options:-

Option 1:        Grant the licence in the terms applied for.

Option 2:        Grant the licence with modified/additional conditions imposed by the licensing committee.

Option 3:        Grant the licence to exclude any of the licensable activities to which the application relates and modify/add conditions accordingly.

Option 4:              Reject the application.

In coming to their decision of approving the above Option 3 the Sub-Committee  then imposed the following amended/additional conditions:

1.         The area to be licensed shall be as shown edged red on the attached plan. (The licensed area excludes the courtyard, the L-shaped driveway including the Coach  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.