notification of chairman and outline of procedure

The Chairman opened the meeting by introducing the Sub-Committee and the Officers present. He explained that the Sub-Committee would consider two applications in turn and detailed the procedure that would be followed. The case for Iwade Village Hall would be heard first, followed by that of Club 2UK. The third application on the agenda, that for The Beach Public House, Seaside Avenue, Minster, would be deferred until the next meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee.

part b minutes for information

application to vary premises licence under the licensing act 2003 – iwade village hall, ferry road, iwade

As neither the applicant nor the objector were present at the meeting, the Licensing Officer explained the details of the case. In response to a question from a Member, the Licensing Officer confirmed that the applicant had requested the Licence to include regulated entertainment not only inside, but also outside in the grounds of the village hall, from 0900 to 1500 Monday to Friday, and explained that the applicant had stipulated that this use would be purely for the day groups that met at the hall.

The Sub-Committee adjourned to make their decision at 2.08pm.
Members of the Sub-Committee, the Senior Solicitor and the Democratic Services Officer left the meeting and returned at 2.25pm when the Sub-Committee reconvened.

application to vary premises licence under the licencing act 2003 – club 2uk, clocktower crescent, sheerness

Mr Mobbs, the applicant, presented his case. He explained that he did not want 24 hour licensing, but as the club was situated in Sheerness town centre, he would need to compete with other licensed premises locally who had also applied for extended hours. There had been a pub or club on the site for over 20 years and he had worked with the Environmental Services Department at Swale Borough Council (SBC) to resolve problems and complaints associated with noise. The renovations made to the club had met with the approval of the fire brigade on their recent visit.

In response to a question regarding fighting by the clocktower in the early hours, the Chairman advised that it was unreasonable to ask the applicant to police their clients once off the premises. Mr Mobbs also denied that any trouble emanated from his premises.

In response to another question from Lady Susan Durrant, Mr Mobbs detailed that a sound limiter had been incorrectly installed, and that SBC’s Environmental Services Team had recommended an engineer to reset the levels. He had also fitted an inner door and gyproc soundproofing was to be installed in the hallway leading to the club itself. The password to change the levels on the sound limiter was held by the engineer, not by any of his staff. He also confirmed that he employed two badged door staff.

In response to Mr Mobbs circulating a letter received from the Environmental Services Department, the Environmental Protection Manager explained that he did not believe the premises to be suitable for the use of a sound limiter, as weak points throughout the building negated any noise insulation. The Environmental Protection Team had spent time advising Mr Mobbs, and the settings on the noise limiter were in order. Noise levels had been monitored and were found to be satisfactory. The Environmental Protection Manager confirmed that there had recently been a breach of a Noise Abatement Notice, and that future breaches could result in prosecution. He expressed his concern that as the club was small, he did not consider it suitable for late night music, and would object to an increase in hours, as the granting of extended hours would imply that the noise problem had been resolved.

The objectors, Lady Susan Durrant and Mr Wilson, presented their case, stating that both noise and vibrations affected them in their respective flats. Lady Susan Durrant asserted that it was difficult to sleep in these conditions, as the noise often continued well into the early hours of the morning.

In response to a question from a Member, she confirmed that she was able to distinguish that the music emanated from the club.

The Sub-Committee adjourned to make their decision at 3.20pm. Members of the Sub-Committee, the Senior Solicitor and the Democratic Services Officer left the meeting and returned at 3.31pm when the Sub-Committee reconvened.