Agenda and minutes

Proposed by Councillor Gary Fuller

Seconded by Councillor Polly Blakemore and

Resolved: To appoint Councillor Mike Blakemore as Chair for the meeting.

(Voting: For 3; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Members of the Council should declare any interests which fall under the following categories:

a)       disclosable pecuniary interests (DPI)

b)       other significant interests (OSI)

c)       voluntary announcements of other interests

Councillors Polly Blakemore and Mike Blakemore declared a voluntary announcement in respect of Application for a Premises Licence in respect of The Green Room, The Grand, Folkestone in that they had attended an event there recently. They remained in the meeting for discussion and voting on this item.

Members should complete the enclosed yellow form and return it to the Committee Administrator at the meeting.

Councillor Gary Fuller informed that he had received emails in respect of Application for a Premises Licence for The Green Room, The Grand, Folkestone.

Councillors Polly Blakemore and Mike Blakemore informed the meeting that they had attended a site visit in respect of Application for a Premises Licence for The Green Room, The Grand, Folkestone.

This report outlines the application made for a Premises Licence for this premises. The Licensing Sub-Committee must determine the outcome for the application.

In reaching its decision the Sub-Committee carefully considered all the information provided at the hearing including:

·       The report presented by the Licensing Specialist Briony Williamson.

·       The representations received, referenced below.

·       The Applicant’s submissions.

·       The provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 and the four licensing objectives.

·       The Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy [“the Policy”]

·       The guidance issued by the Secretary of State under s.182 of the Licensing Act 2003 (December 2022).

The following representations to object to the application were made by:

Tatiana Dudova, resident of the Grand

Thomas von Nordheim, resident of the Grand

Chris Fallon, resident of the Grand

Robert Dancy, resident of the Grand

Georgina Patterson, solicitor acting on behalf of Mr Dancy

The focus of the objections related to the following:

·       Lack of consultation with residents.

·       The structure of the building is not conducive to the type of music events suggested.

·       Noise disturbance to residents with no improvements offered.

·       Amplified music – a sound assessment should be completed.

·       Application is too vague with too many concerns in its current form.

·       Privacy and Security for residents, access to residential areas has not been given due consideration.

·       Toilet access.

·       No restriction to numbers clearly given.

·       Possible parking issues.

The following representation to support the application was made by:

Grenville Hancox, resident of the Grand

The main points raised were as follows:

·       Mr Hancox is a Director on the GRFL, a board who brought the Freehold to form a company to take forward the building with the help of the applicant Beton Collective CIC who have taken over the running of the Green Room.

·       The application has been presented to cater for all events hoping to be held in the Green Room, with a further premise licence being presented for the whole building.

·       Wants to rebrand the Grand with new ideas that benefit all the residents.

·       No incidents of crime and disorder have been reported.

The applicant Beton Collective CIC informed the sub-committee that the Grand is an important cultural destination and has a heritage dating back to 1903.

With the help of many local organisations a number of events have now been held in the Green Room ranging from classical music, dance, speakers, charity events and exhibitions, together with regular coffee mornings attended by residents and others.

With regards to noise, it is required that a sound engineer gains access to some of the residents addresses to help provide solutions and until this can be done no record can be provided.

There is a cost to running the Green Room which covers insurance, maintenance, cleaning and assets so to be able to hold more licensed events would allow profits to be ploughed back into the Grand’s refurbishments.

Beton Collective are happy to provide stewards for events, limit numbers, when necessary, cctv for entrance and hallway and would provide signage to inform patrons of the necessity  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

To exclude the public for the following item of business on the

grounds that it is likely to disclose exempt information, as defined in

paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act

1972 –

‘Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.’

Proposed by Councillor Gary Fuller

Seconded by Councillor Polly Blakemore and

Resolved:

To exclude the public for the following item of business on the

grounds that it is likely to disclose exempt information, as defined in

paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act

1972 –

‘Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.’

(Voting: For 3; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

The decision of the Licensing Sub-Committee was whether any action should be taken in respect of your Combined Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

In reaching its decision the Sub-Committee carefully considered all the information provided at the hearing including:-

(i)    The report presented by Licensing Specialist Briony Williamson

(ii)   The account provided by the driver

(iii) The provisions of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976;

(iv) Relevant case law as detailed within the Report;

(v)   The Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire policy [“the Policy”]

Proposed by Councillor Gary Fuller

Seconded by Councillor Polly Blakemore and

Resolved: Having considered all the evidence presented at the hearing, the Sub-Committee took the decision to Issue a written warning to the driver for having driven his vehicle without having a valid compliance certificate.  The Sub-Committee is satisfied that the driver remains a fit and proper person to be a licensed driver.

(Voting: For 3; Against 0; Abstentions 0)