The Committee received and considered a report from the Head of Service, Public Protection which advised that an application had been submitted for a variation to a premises licence for The Lancer, 10 Lake Street, Leighton Buzzard.  The Applicant and the Applicant’s solicitors attended the meeting and made representations.

The Chairman outlined the procedure to be followed.

The Chairman invited the Service Manager, Public Protection to present the report to the Sub-Committee.  The Sub-Committee were advised that the Applicant, Bramwell Pubs and Bars Limited had submitted an application for a variation to their premises licence.  The application sought the following:-

The Chairman invited the Applicant’s Solicitor to present their case to the Sub-Committee.  The application for a variation to the premises licence was set out as detailed in the table above.  Mr Robson explained to the Sub-Committee the following points:

·        there had been no indications of any problems at the premises,

·        other premises in the vicinity had licences which allowed them to remain open well past the hours applied for as part of this application;

·        additional clientele will not be attracted after other premises have closed;

·        the Police have no objection to the application;

·        there was no evidence to suggest that the opinion of the Police should not be followed;

·        representations from members of the public were based on fear, rather than evidence.

The Chairman invited the rest of the Sub-Committee to question the Applicant’s Solicitor.

The Chairman invited the Applicant’s Solicitor and the Service Manager to ask questions of each other. 

The Chairman invited the Applicant and the Service Manager to sum up their cases.

The Sub-Committee adjourned to deliberate upon the application.  The Managing Solicitor for Central Bedfordshire Council joined the panel to provide clarification of questions.