Cllrs:   R D Berry

            D Bowater

            I Dalgarno

Councillor I Dalgarno was elected Chairman for the meeting.

There were no apologies for absence.

To receive from Members any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

For The Queen’s Head:

TQH Ampthill Ltd.

For The White Hart:

Punch Taverns plc.

For The Queen’s Head:

20 Woburn Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2HP.

For The White Hart:

125 Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2NG.

Parties in Attendance Throughout:

Cllr R D Berry (Central Bedfordshire Council)

Cllr D Bowater (Central Bedfordshire Council)

Cllr I Dalgarno (Central Bedfordshire Council)

Mrs M Bissett – Licensing Officer (Central Bedfordshire Council)

Mr L Manning – Committee Services Officer (Central Bedfordshire Council)

Mrs E Nee – Licensing Officer (Mid County) (Bedfordshire Police)

Cllr M Blair – Ward Member (Central Bedfordshire Council)

Cllr P Duckett – Ward Member (Central Bedfordshire Council)

Ampthill resident 1 (name withheld on request)

Ampthill resident 2 (name withheld on request)

Parties Present for The Queen’s Head only:

Mrs E Bradbury – Legal Executive (Central Bedfordshire Council)

Ms Karen Elkins - Commercial Services Co-ordinator (Charles Wells Ltd)

Mr F Fender - Applicant (TQH Ampthill Ltd)

Mrs K Hammond - Wife of Designated Premises Supervisor (The Queen’s Head)

Mr R Hammond - Designated Premises Supervisor (The Queen’s Head)

Parties Present for The White Hart only:

Mrs L McShane – Legal Services Manager – Commercial (Central Bedfordshire Council)

Mr A Ford – Operations Director (Oakman Inns and Restaurants)

Mr J Searle – Partnership Development Manager (Punch Taverns plc)

Mr P Warne – Associate Solicitor (TLT LLP)

Observer Present for The White Hart only:

Mrs D Sutherns – Town Clerk (Ampthill Town Council)

For The Queen’s Head:

Representations had been received from 14 persons (names withheld) to the variation of the premises licence to extend the hours for the sale of alcohol, recorded music, late night refreshment and opening hours at The Queen’s Head, 20 Woburn Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2HP on the grounds that it would undermine the following Licensing Objectives:

·         Prevention of crime and disorder

·         Public safety

·         Prevention of public nuisance.

For The White Hart:

Representations had been received from 11 persons (names withheld) to the variation of the premises licence to extend the hours for the sale of alcohol and late night refreshment and amend current licensing conditions at The White Hart, 125 Dunstable Road, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2NG on the grounds that it would undermine the following Licensing Objectives:

·         Prevention of crime and disorder

·         Public safety

·         Prevention of public nuisance.

To note the procedure for hearing applications under the Licensing Act 2003 (copy attached).

The procedure for the hearing of applications made under the Licensing Act 2003 was noted.

To note the four Licensing Objectives (copy attached).

The four Licensing Objectives were noted.

To determine an application for a variation to the premises licence for The Queens Head, 20 Woburn Street, Ampthill, made under the Licensing Act 2003, to which representations have been received.

The Chairman welcomed the attendees to the meeting.  He then introduced himself, the members of the Sub-Committee and the officers present.

The Chairman explained the meeting procedure.

The Licensing Officer then introduced a report by the Head of Public Protection which asked Members to determine an application from TQH Ampthill Ltd to vary the premises licence for The Queen’s Head, 20 Woburn Street, Ampthill, Beds.

There were no questions by the Sub-Committee in relation to the report and no points by the Licensing Officer requiring clarification.  The Applicant had no questions relating to the officer’s report.

The Applicant then set out the nature of the propose variation to the premises licence which would see an extension in both opening hours and some of the licensable activity allowed on the site.  The Applicant provided a description of the premises, referred to the five year length of service by the current Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) and stated that the average age of the pub’s patrons was approximately 50, with some younger persons who were attracted by the safe atmosphere and sociability found there.

The Applicant explained that the application had been made because some regular patrons left before the pub’s current closing time of 11.00 p.m. to enjoy late drinking elsewhere.  By extending the opening hours these patrons could remain.  He added that although representations against the application had been received none had been forthcoming from any Responsible Authority such as the Police or Environmental Health.  Further, many of those making representations did so with regard to the application for the variation of the premises licence for the nearby White Hart and not specifically for The Queen’s Head

The Applicant stated that he had taken full account of the representations, especially those from Councillor Blair and suggested various additional conditions which could be introduced to meet residents’ concerns.

The Applicant stressed that the issue of noise was taken extremely seriously given that the DPS and his wife had an eight year old daughter and they had no wish to see her affected by this.  However, he also reminded the Sub-Committee that, under the Licensing Act 2003, the responsibility for a person’s behaviour beyond the immediate area surrounding the premises lay with the individual not the DPS.  The Council had no vicinity policy in place and the law was not a mechanism for the control of anti-social activity.  He concluded by stating that he was confident that the proposed variation to the premises licence would not cause undue concerns for local residents.

There were no questions from the Sub-Committee.

There were no Responsible Authorities present to speak on this application.

The Chairman invited any Interested Parties present to speak.  In response a local resident stated that The Queen’s Head lay within a residential area not an area of mixed use and there were houses occupied by families around the pub.  She also stated that, contrary to what had been claimed, there were existing issues relating to fighting, noise and underage drinking.  She referred  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

To determine an application for a variation to the premises licence for The White Hart, 125 Dunstable Street, Ampthill, made under the Licensing Act 2003, to which representations have been received.

The Chairman welcomed the attendees to the meeting.  He then introduced himself, the members of the Sub-Committee and the officers present.

The Chairman explained the meeting procedure.

The Licensing Officer then introduced a report by the Head of Public Protection which asked Members to determine an application from Punch Taverns plc to vary the premises licence for The White Hart, 125 Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Beds.

There were no questions by the Sub-Committee in relation to the report and no points by the Licensing Officer requiring clarification.  The Applicant’s solicitor had no questions relating to the officer’s report.

The Applicant’s solicitor introduced the application for consideration.  He reminded the meeting that in 2013 the premises licence for The White Hart had been reviewed following ongoing problems arising from the late night operation of the pub at that time.  The solicitor stated that he felt the Council’s decision to amend the premises licence to prevent late night operations and restrict certain activities had been correct.  The tenancy had subsequently been terminated by Punch Taverns and the premises closed.  He stressed that Punch Taverns, as the landlord, had not supported the previous tenant’s actions.

The Applicant’s solicitor then stated that the premises had been closed for approximately two years at a cost in lost revenue of £300,000 and a further cost of £20,000 to secure it.  Although Punch Taverns could have appointed temporary tenants the company wanted a ‘cooling off’ period and the ability to appoint new tenants who would represent how much The White Hart had changed.

The Applicant’s solicitor then briefly described the nature of the proposed variation as set out within Appendix B to the officer’s report.  He added that the application did not include an attempt to vary the hours of regulated entertainment although a further application could be submitted in the future if there was a proven need.

The Applicant’s solicitor referred to the information supplied through Oakman Inns and Restaurants relating to the development of The White Hart as a pub, restaurant and hotel and of Oakman’s approach to the development of its properties.  He drew Members’ attention to the shortlisting of company in three categories in the Publican Awards 2015.  The solicitor also referred to the successful development of the Kings Arms in Berkhamsted, a similar premises to that as The White Hart, which operated on approximately the same basis as that proposed for The White Hart.  He stated that the development of The White Hart was an example of the commitment of Punch Taverns and Oakmans and their willingness to invest in Ampthill. 

The Applicant’s solicitor stated that there would be occasional functions and these would not be held every week.  The bar was the first stage of the premises’ development and would be community focused.  The hotel element fell within the second stage.  He stated that the proposed extension to the opening hours was an attempt to retain patrons at The White Hart so they did not have to leave to continue drinking elsewhere  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.