Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

There were no Substitute Members.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Springett be elected as Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That all items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

The persons participating in the hearing were identified as follows:

1.  Chairman – Councillor Springett

2.  Sub-Committee Members – Councillors English and Trzebinski

3.  Senior Licensing Officer – Lorraine Neale

4.  Legal Advisor – Helen Ward

5.  Democratic Services Officer – Jordan Ifield

6.  Representative of the Applicant – Frank Fender

7.  The Applicant - Dhanushan Mahendran

8.  Interested Party – Councillor Dee Ann Stead of Yalding Parish Council

9.  Interested Party – Angela Gent, Clerk of Yalding Parish Council

All parties confirmed that they were aware of the sub-committee hearing procedure and that they had each received a copy of the hearing procedure document.

The Sub-Committee Members confirmed that they had read the papers regarding the hearing. The Chairman explained that:

·  The Sub-Committee would allow all parties to put their case fully and make full submissions within a reasonable time frame.

·  The procedure would take the form of a discussion led by the Sub-Committee and they would usually permit cross-examination within a reasonable timeframe.

·  Any person attending the hearing who behaved in a disruptive manner may be directed to leave the hearing by the Sub-Committee (including temporarily) after which, such person may submit to the Sub-Committee any information which that person would have been entitled to give orally had the person not been required to leave the meeting. If this was not possible, they may be permitted to speak at the Chairman’s invitation.

The Senior Licensing Officer introduced the report, referencing the application received in Appendix 1 of the report, the objection from Yalding Parish Council received in Appendix 3 of the report, and the current licence and plans of the premises in Appendices 4 to 6 of the report.

The Representative of the Applicant was invited to make their opening remarks and stated that the Applicant had taken over the premises in September 2023. The premises had previously operated as a public house with a garden area attached to the premises, and the current premises licence allowed for the supply of alcohol until 01:00 a.m. on a Friday and Saturday, and 00:00 a.m. during the rest of the week. It was proposed to vary the licence to supply alcohol on the premises from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and off the premises from 07:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Patrons would be served alcohol on premises from a serving hatch and patrons could consume the alcohol in the garden area.

In response to questions from the panel, the Representative of the Applicant stated that the garden area was not included in the current premises licence, and that it had been included in the proposed premises licence plan to avoid ambiguity. Patrons would be charged more for alcohol purchased on the premises and consumed in the garden, and only those patrons would be allowed in the garden area. The Applicant confirmed that during peak trade hours during the summer months, five members of staff would be on the premises, including the serving hatch. It was clarified that to access to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.