Agenda and minutes

The Chair introduced the Sub-Committee and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Outline of the Application by the Licensing Officer

The Licensing Officer outlined the application by Paul Anthony Charles Hepworth for a Premises Licence in respect of 199 Kettering Road, Northampton.  He then explained the procedure for the hearing.

Application for the Review

The Applicant stated that he had rented the adjoining property 198 Kettering Road for more than a year, during that time 199 had been empty and subject to acts of vandalism.

Mr Hepworth is the Licensee of a pub in Milton Keynes. He stated his intention to run the ground floor premises as a small coffee shop during the day and then to use the upstairs premises as a real ale /cider bar serving old fashioned English food. Any music, which would be pre recorded would be kept at a background level only so as to allow conversation.

Mr Hepworth had been in E mail correspondence with Katie Chown of the Colwyn Road Residents Association and that following that there had been a meeting of three concerned residents at the premises .He stated that this meeting had reassured those residents. However he did accept that this could not be taken as evidence that their objections had been withdrawn.

Mr Hepworth tabled copies of E mail correspondence from Katie Chown and letters of support from a priest local to his Milton Keynes premises and from two local residents.

Questions to the Applicant

Councillor Eldred asked Mr Hepworth what the outcome of the meeting with the Residents Association was. He replied that they had seemed happy with his proposals. Councillor Choudrary then commented that as the residents had not withdrawn their objection then it could not be concluded that the residents were happy.

Councillor Strachan asked where patrons would be parking their vehicles. Mr Hepworth replied that there was a small local car park and also some spaces outside the premises.

Mr McKenzie asked what sound proofing measures the applicant was intending to make, particularly as there was a family with young children very close by. Mr Hepworth replied that there would not be any requirement for sound proofing as the music would only be set at background level.

Councillor Choudary asked the applicant who would be running the premises, if he were also a Licensee at Milton Keynes. Mr Hepworth replied that he would be running the premises and that his eldest son would be running the Milton Keynes premises.

Councillor Strachan asked how the Police would be able to keep an eye on the premises, as it was not in the Town Centre area. Mr Hepworth replied that he too had witnessed anti social behaviour, however he did not believe that the real ale drinkers are prone to drinking to excess.

Councillor Eldred asked if there were any figures regarding crime statistics in the area and whether there was group profile of offenders. Councillor Strachan replied that the Police were aware as problems were regularly raised at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.