Members checked that there were no other attendees at 10am and decided to proceed with present attendees as no answers to notices indicating a wish to attend and representations on papers were clear.

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.

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 1 & 2 Limes Place, Preston Street, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8PQ.

Mr Mohammad Bauluck, Licensing Officer, introduced the application in respect of Domino’s Pizza,  1 & 2 Limes Place, Preston Street, Faversham for the provision of late night refreshments.  The proposed hours of operation were Sunday to Thursday 23:00 to 00:00, and Friday to Saturday 23:00 to 02:00.  Representations had been received from Kent Police; they requested five conditions which were set out in the report, which were accepted into their operating schedule by the applicant and the representation withdrawn.  The Planning Department had also commented and 13 representations from the public, both letters and emails had been received.  Four representations had been received after the consultation period had expired.

Mr Ertan Kara, on behalf of the Applicant, provided a background to Domino’s Pizza’s work, both globally and nationally.  He acknowledged the representations that had been submitted, and explained the company wanted to ‘do the right thing’.  They wanted to expand the business, create jobs and train young people, and did not want to disturb neighbouring residents.  Mr Kara acknowledged the unsociable hours that were worked at the premises, but explained that he would try and accommodate the issues the neighbours had raised.

Mr Kent, an objector to the application, stated that although the staff were good and courteous, the position of the business within a cul-de-sac residential area, off Preston Street, caused issues with the motorbikes making their deliveries.  He suggested it be sited on an industrial estate where no disruption would be caused.

The Applicant explained that the business was not in a cul-de-sac.  He stated that the Domino’s Pizza business as a whole, not the franchise, decided where the business would be located.  He believed it was in the right position.  Deliveries were operated from the front of the building; the back had been used for deliveries when Preston Street was shut during the Hop Festival.  The Applicant considered any additional noise from extended opening hours would be minimal.

Mr Kent stated that deliveries were made from the rear of the property.

In response to a question, the Applicant advised that the opening hours varied across Domino’s Pizza branches.  He further explained that one bike and one car were used for deliveries during the day, and at peak times there were four bikes and eight cars, with around half leaving at 21:00 to 22:00.

In response to a question, the Licensing Officer advised that one contact had been received with regard to the opening hours but no complaints.  He had visited the premises and there had been no issues to report.

Mr Kent considered the extended hours would result in staff leaving the premises at the rear at 3am into a quiet residential area.

The Applicant advised that he could switch lights off early; and ensure that staff were considerate when they left the premises.

Mrs Weston advised that she had complained about noise at the premises after 11pm and this was the contact referred to by the officer.

The Applicant reported that other premises were open in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 354.