Resolved: That Cllr. Barnett be appointed as Chairman of the Licensing Hearing.

(Cllr. Barnett in the Chair)

There were none.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the hearing.

The Sub-Committee gave consideration to the report of the Senior Licensing Officer, which gave details of an application for a new premises licence for The Bridges, Horton Road, South Darenth DA4 9AX. The officer provided an overview of the report, and explained that the application had been amended, following the receipt of six objections from local residents, to remove all nonstandard timings except for New Year’s Eve. This had resulted in five of the objections being withdrawn. There was one remaining representation objecting to the application.

The Applicant addressed the hearing. He explained that the premises would sell food and alcohol, with a firm Challenge 25 policy in place. A previous premises had operated from the same location for 20 years without complaint, though he noted that there had been some issues with rowdiness more recently. He explained that the premises would provide food and drink with light background music only, without additional forms of entertainment such as darts or a jukebox, which would help address this. 

The panel asked questions of clarification of the applicant. The premises would have a designated smoking area away from the neighbouring cottages, to reduce any noise impact. Customers would be advised to not take glasses outside of the premises except to the garden area. The premises had two entrances; the door closest to the neighbouring cottages would be locked earlier to ensure customers did not disturb residents when leaving the premises. The applicant advised that he had spoken with the neighbours and that they seemed satisfied with these measures.

At 10:41 the Hearing Members withdrew to consider the issues raised, accompanied by the Council’s Legal Advisor and the Clerk to the Hearing for the purpose of providing advice only.

At 10:58 the Hearing Members, the Council’s Legal Advisor, and the Clerk to the Hearing returned to the Conference Room.

The Chairman informed the Hearing that the Sub-Committee, having had regard to the representations made by the Applicant and interested parties, the Licensing objectives, the Statutory Guidance issued under Section 182 of the Act and the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, had decided to grant the application as applied for, subject to minor amendments to conditions for the purposes of enforceability. 

A full decision notice would be issued within five working days to all interested parties.

Resolved: That the premises licence in respect of The Bridges, Horton Road, South Darenth DA4 9AX, subject to the  conditions consistent with the operating schedule offered by the applicant and the mandatory conditions, subject to minor amendments for the purposes of enforceability, contained in the Notice of Determination attached as an appendix to these minutes, be granted.