Agenda and minutes

Cllr Robert Knowles was elected as Chair for the meeting.

It was noted that Cllr Davidson had replaced Cllr Reed on the Sub-Committee for the meeting, as Cllr Reed had a conflict of interests due to being the local councillor for the applicant.

There were no declarations of interests in relation to items on the agenda.

The purpose of the report is to enable the Sub-Committee to consider an application for a new Premises Licence for Cranes Family Sports Bar, Snoxhaal Pavillion, Snoxhall Fields, Knowle Lane, Cranleigh GU6 8JW under section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003. Five relevant representations have been received from ‘other persons’, in opposition

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Sub-Committee considers the application and evidence of all parties involved at the hearing and then determine the application.

Members must determine the application in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005.

The Sub-Committee should take such steps (as described at paragraph 8.11 below) as it considers appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives.

Once determined, the licensing authority must provide notification of the decision including its reasons to the applicant, any person who has made relevant representations and the Chief Officer of Police for the area in which the premises is situated.

The Sub-Committee received a report from the Licensing & Environmental Enforcement Manager, Paul Hughes. The application before the Sub-Committee was for a new premises licence for the supply of alcohol at Snoxhall Pavilion. No representations had been received from Responsible Authorities. Five representations had been received from other persons, two of whom were present at the hearing:

·         Cllr Marc Scully, Chair, Cranleigh Parish Council, accompanied by Beverley Bell, Clerk to Cranleigh Parish Council

·         Natasha Dhall, owner of Little Hearts Nursery, Snoxhall Pavilion, Cranleigh

The Chair invited the applicant, Mr Dennison, to make his submission in support of his application. Mr Dennison stated that:

·         The football club had previously held a licence and the bar had been run by volunteers, but this arrangement had ceased some time ago due to the difficulty in maintaining a rota of volunteers.

·         The football club was growing, and Mr Dennison wanted to reintroduce the previous facilities, but on a more formal basis with paid staff.

·         The bar had been operating for a couple of months and there had been no issues with the nursery. Mr Dennison was looking to add the flexibility to open during the day in the school holidays when the nursery was closed.

·         The bar was situated near to the Downs Link and the children’s play area so there was the potential for a lot of passing trade beyond the users of the Pavilion.

·         The longer term plan was to raise funds for local clubs and charities through making the premises available for events and parties. Approx. £2,500 had been raised in the 2 months the bar had been operating.

·         The bar was the hub of the Cranleigh sporting community, and offered snacks, teas, coffees and soft drinks as well as alcohol during licenced hours.

In response to questions from the Sub-Committee, Mr Dennison advised:

·         The proceeds from the previous licensed operations financed the rent paid to the Parish Council for the Pavilion hire.

·         In future, the surplus would cover the cost of staffing the licensed operations. Mr Dennison was not looking to take a profit from the operations, but to provide a service to the sporting community. The Pavilion had been built with a bar so it was anticipated that this would be part of the operations of the Pavilion.

·         The bar would not be open when the nursery was operating. It had been operating via Temporary Event Notices (TENS) for the last two months and there had not been a problem with alcohol related incidents. He wished to have the flexibility to open during the day in school holidays (when the nursery was not open), subject to the agreement of the Parish Council.

·         CCTV was provided by the Parish Council. Beverley Bell confirmed there were 20 cameras around the Pavilion, all were working and under a maintenance contract.

The Chair invited the other persons to make their representations.

Cllr Marc Scully, Chair of Cranleigh Parish Council read a statement on behalf of the Parish Council, in support of the Parish  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.