Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

No declarations of any interests were received.

General procedure points and hearing procedure for the meeting.

The Chair outlined the procedure to be used to conduct the meeting.

Report of the Director of Early Intervention and Support.

The Sub-Committee considered an application made under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 for the granting of a premises licence for Coppull Conservative Club, 261 Spendmore Lane, Coppull, Chorley, PR7 5DF.

It was reported to the Sub-Committee that the Council received an application for a new Premises Licence for Coppull Conservative Club on 29 September 2017. The premises benefited from a Club Premises Certificate (CPC). Members considered an application for a new premises licence, not the CPC, which sought to obtain a full premises licence to allow non-members to attend the venue whilst continuing to have the CPC running in conjunction with the new licence.

The application received three representations, one of which from Environmental Health had been subsequently resolved through negotiation and agreement to additional conditions, prior to the hearing. There were two other representations from local residents, although one of those representations came attached to the first via email. The Licensing Enforcement Officer advised that one of the parties had subsequently moved away, therefore he considered that representation to carry far less weight as the venue could no longer affect the author of the letter. No subsequent representations had been received from the new residents at the address. The issues raised by the representations related to the licensing objective of the Prevention of Public Nuisance.

It was understood that Lancashire Constabulary agreed additional conditions and made no representations. Both Environmental Health and Lancashire Constabulary had agreed with the applicant a time limit of 6-8 weeks after the licence was issued to implement the changes required within the additional conditions. Chorley Licensing Enforcement Officers also negotiated a reduction in the operating and licensable activities hours applied for with the applicant.

At the hearing, residents explained that their main concerns were the noise and parking issues which were generated and believed that the club had not been responsible licence holders over recent years. It was also noted that seven other residents had expressed similar objections regarding noise when approached by the objector but these had not been submitted in writing. Mr Whelan advised the Sub-Committee that he had had numerous discussions with various people at the club but no consequent actions had been made. He had subsequently rung the police, but chose not to make a formal complaint and also contacted the MP’s office.

Following contact with the Environmental Health Officer, Mr Whelan was provided with a sound device to monitor the levels of noise received at his property from the club. On the August Bank Holiday weekend, music at levels of 50 decibels was recorded at 11.30pm. Mr Whelan said that the World Health Organisation specified that the maximum acceptable limit was 30 decibels. Mr Whelan commented that some of the forms of adult entertainment at the premises were not appropriate.

In summary, Mr Whelan did not object categorically to the grant of the licence or music noise levels and was not trying to get the premises closed, but held concerns regarding the proposed licensed hours, including  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.LAS.68