Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no substitute members appointed.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in respect of business to be transacted on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made.

The Sub-Committee is requested to determine the application.

Applicant:   The Steam Museum Trust

The following papers are attached.

(i)         Licensing Team Leader’s report.

(ii)        Appendix A – Application to vary the premises licence..

(iii)       Appendix B – Additional information provided by the applicant.

(iv)       Appendix C – Existing licence.

(v)        Appendix D – Map of the area.

(vi)       Appendix E – Representation from Responsible Authority.

(vii)      Appendix F – Representations from Other Parties.

The procedure to be followed by the Sub-Committee is attached to this agenda.

The Sub-committee considered an application from The Steam Museum Trust in respect of Preston Court, Court Lane, Preston. The application sought to extend the licensable area to include a bar and marquee (to be used for events between 1 May – 30 September each year) and increase the times for the current licensable area as follows:

Supply of Alcohol (for consumption ON the premises)

Live Music and Recorded Music and Facilities for Dancing

The application also sought to remove the following condition from the premises licence

‘All music and alcohol sales to be between the hours of 09:00 and 23:00 hrs’.

On the basis of the representations of the applicant, their representative, the police as the Responsible Authority, and Other Persons, the Sub-Committee found the following facts to be established:

(i)      The application made by The Steam Museum Trust and represented at the Hearing by Anna List Brain (venue manager and operator) sought to vary the premises licence to amend the hours for alcohol sales and live and recorded music; to add to the licensable area to include a bar and marquee for the sale of alcohol (to be used for events between 1 May – 30 September each year); and to remove the condition on the current licence that prohibited music and alcohol sales after 23:00 hrs.

(ii)     Eight representations were received from Other Persons objecting to the application and all cited the licensing objective, Prevention of Public Nuisance in their representations. Ms Jill Matthews was in attendance at the Hearing. Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) had objected as the Responsible Authority, citing the licensing objective Prevention of Public Safety and Daniel Pott and Kirsty Ferguson were in attendance.

(iii)     The representations made by the Other Persons and as included in the agenda papers were considered by the Sub-Committee. Ms Matthews stated that the application had not been advertised correctly and had informed close neighbours of the application herself. The Licensing Team Leader advised that the requirements of the Licensing Act to advertise such applications had been satisfied and a site visit carried out to ensure the required notice was correctly displayed.

(iv)    Preston Court through Peacock Events had been operating as a wedding venue since 2010 and The Steam Museum Trustees had held the licence since this time. A marquee had been used for events since 2016 and were permitted under Temporary Event Notices (TENs). The applicant advised that approximately 60 TENs had been utilised in that time and the application for the inclusion of the marquee on the application was to lessen the administrative burden of the TEN application process and not increase the number of events planned.

(v)     Ms Matthews stated the nearby residents were not notified in advance when TENs had been utilised for the use of the marquee. The Licensing Team Leader advised that the legislation only required the police and Environmental Health to be notified so as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.