The Chairman will advise the meeting of the evacuation procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. This is particularly important for visitors and members of the public who will be unfamiliar with the building and procedures.

The Chairman will inform the meeting whether there is a planned evacuation drill due to take place, what the alarm sounds like (i.e. ringing bells), where the closest emergency exit route is, and where the second closest emergency exit route is, in the event that the closest exit or route is blocked.

The Chairman will inform the meeting that:

(a) in the event of the alarm sounding, everybody must leave the building via the nearest safe available exit and gather at the Assembly points at the far side of the Car Park. Nobody must leave the assembly point until everybody can be accounted for and nobody must return to the building until the Chairman has informed them that it is safe to do so; and

(b) the lifts must not be used in the event of an evacuation.

Any officers present at the meeting will aid with the evacuation.

It is important that the Chairman is informed of any person attending who is disabled or unable to use the stairs, so that suitable arrangements may be made in the event of an emergency.

The Chairman made sure that those present were aware of the fire evacuation procedure.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and outlined the procedure that would be followed.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for  themselves or their spouse, civil partner or person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner.  They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

The Chairman will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items on this agenda, under the following headings:

(a)          Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and not take part in the discussion or vote.  This applies even if there is provision for public speaking.

(b)          Disclosable Non Pecuniary (DNPI) under the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DNPI interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

(c)          Where it is possible that a fair-minded and informed observer, having considered the facts would conclude that there was a real possibility that the Member might be predetermined or biased the Member should declare their predetermination or bias and then leave the room while that item is considered.

Advice to Members:  If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Director of Corporate Services as Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

No interests were declared.

To consider an application for a new premises licence at The Admiral’s Arm, Trafalgar Court, West Street, Queenborough, Sheerness, Kent.

Mrs Angela Seaward, Senior Licensing Officer, introduced the report which was to consider an application to grant a Premises Licence at The Admirals Arm, Trafalgar Court, West Street, Queenborough.  The proposed hours of operation are:

Monday – Sunday 11:00 – 23:00hrs

Christmas Eve 11:00 – 01:00hrs

New Years Eve 11:00 – 01:30hrs

Mrs Seaward advised that 6 representations had been received in addition to conditions suggested by Kent Police.

Mr Collier, the Applicant, considered that there was a need for a different type of venue and service in the up and coming area of Queenborough and explained that the micro pub did not serve food, encouraged conversation between customers, served real ale, ciders and wine instead of lager and had only low-key, acoustic style music.  Mr Collier advised that the venue had been trading on a temporary licence for the previous three weekends and although it had been busy with a mostly mature clientele, it was not noisy and there had been no complaints.

Mr Philipps (Objector) advised that he lived very close to The Admirals Arm, and other public houses and establishments were within close proximity.  He had concerns of noise nuisance from The Admirals Arm as he had experienced from other establishments previously.  Mr Philipps highlighted the lightweight construction of the building and its corrugated tin roof which he considered was not sufficiently insulated.  Mr Philipps referred to the Planning Approval for the micro-pub granted on 18 August 2016 and asked the Sub-Committee to consider similar conditions that were imposed on the planning approval to be applied to the Premises Licence, and highlighted the planning conditions relating to opening hours and amplified music.   He advised that he was not objecting to the concept of the micro pub, only to any noise issues that may arise.

The Senior Lawyer (Contentious) advised the meeting that the Planning and Licensing regime sat independently and it was not uncommon for a variation in hours granted by the Planning Committee and Licensing Sub-Committee.  In response to an issue raised by Mr Philipps relating to a breach of condition at the Old House at Home public house, the Senior Lawyer (Contentious) reminded the meeting that it was The Admirals Arm Licence that was under discussion and any Breach of Condition of the Licence at the Old House at Home should be considered in a Licence review of that premises.

In response to a question from a Member, the Applicant advised that low-key, non-amplified music such as guitar or fiddle was planned at the premises.  The applicant went on to advise that the building was an old stable block of brick construction with timber cladding and had thick brick walls and extra insulation had been installed in the loft.  He confirmed that music had not yet been played at the premises and that even on the busy open day, noise could not be heard in the street.  The Senior Licensing Officer confirmed that no complaints had been received.

The Senior Lawyer (Contentious) asked the Applicant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 973.