Agenda and minutes

Resolved:           That Councillor Boyce be elected as Chair of the meeting.

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

Councillor Gillies declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 as he had sat on the Planning Committee which decided the Planning permission for the premises. He also declared a personal interest as a director of Visit York.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Licensing Hearing held on 27^th June 2013.

Members considered an application by The Star Inn The City (York) for a Premises Licence in respect of Lendal Engine House, Museum Street, York.

In coming to their decision, Members took into consideration all of the evidence and submissions that were presented to them and determined their relevance to the issues raised and the licensing objectives.

The following were taken into account:

1.   The Application Form.

2.   The Licensing Managers report and her comments made at the hearing. She advised that the application was for a premises licence at Museum Street, York, within the grounds of the Museum Gardens. A plan showing the location was tabled.  The premise is not located within the special policy area. A number of conditions had been agreed with North Yorkshire Police and the Council’s Environmental Protection Unit (EPU) prior to the hearing, although 3 EPU conditions had been disputed. Following issues raised prior to the hearing about the location of the site notices, she was satisfied that consultation had been carried out successfully, having visited the site herself to check the notices.

3.   The applicants representations made at the hearing. He advised that the premise was in an attractive riverside location and the company had worked hard to secure the correct operator for the site. In response to the representations made by local residents he advised that the premises was to be operated as a fine dining restaurant and the hours and licensing activities applied for were to offer the same experience to early evening diners as to late diners.  He confirmed that the premises was not going to be operated as a drinking establishment and would not be suitable for stag and hen parties. Live music would be the occasional pianist or lunchtime Jazz band.

4.   The representations made at the hearing by local residents who raised concerns about the proximity of the premises to their properties and the potential for public nuisance caused by restaurant customers leaving the area late at night. They advised that they had been happy with the planning application closing hour of midnight but felt that the 2am premises licence was too late in a tranquil area. Concerns were also raised by representatives of the  Waterways Associations about the impact on people who moor their boats along the riverside.

5.   Representations made by the Ward Councillor who advised that residents were upset at the 2am alcohol licence when they purchased their properties believing the proposed establishment would close at midnight. He raised concerns about the access to the restaurant and concerns about noise nuisance in the museum gardens area which is generally peaceful at night.

6.   Written representations made by local residents during the consultation period.

In coming to their decision, the Sub-Committee were presented with the following 4 options:

Option 1     Grant the variation to the Licence in the terms applied for.

Option 2     Grant the variation to the Licence with modified/additional conditions imposed by the Licensing Committee.

Option 3     Grant the variation to the Licence to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.