Agenda item

Variation of the Premises License at The White Hart, 106 High Street, Orpington.

Minutes:

The application was to extend the hours of opening from the current hours of 10.00 until 23.30, Monday to Thursday, and midnight on Friday to Saturday to 08.00 to 00.30 hours the following day, seven days a week. The hours for the supply of alcohol would be extended from the current hours of 10.00 until 23.00 hours Monday to Thursday and 23.30 hours on Friday to Saturday to 08.00 hours to midnight seven days a week.

 

The case for the applicant:

 

The applicant’s representative pointed out that no objections had been received from the responsible authorities. The licensing history showed there had been no issues raised by the Licensing Team for over three years. This period corresponded with his client’s ownership of the pub which had been run down when he took it over. Since then the pub had been refurbished with a significant investment in a new CCTV system and in the kitchens. Neither the police nor local residents had sought to raise concerns directly with his client or the manager. He referred to the National Licensing Guidance and that the police should be the main source of advice in respect of the crime and disorder objective. It was also reasonable to assume that the environmental health authority would make representations, if appropriate, in respect of issues relating to noise and nuisance.

 

The case for the objectors:

 

In addition to written representations, a Ward Councillor, Councillor Tony Owen addressed the hearing. He referred to an email from the Leader of the Petts Wood & Knoll Safer Neighbourhood Police Team that there had been 11 crimes “linked to the public house”.

 

Reasons for decision:

 

Members considered the amended application, the written and oral representations, the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and statutory guidance. Members considered the email from the Safer Neighbourhood Police Team supplied with the agenda, but noted these were not formal records from the police computer, which was often supplied for hearings.

It was felt there was no reason why such additional information could not have been included with the original representations from the Ward Councillors.

 

Members noted the lack of objections from the police and from the Council’s Public Nuisance Team. With reference to the other representations in objection, Members considered that it was difficult to attribute the issues raised to the pub itself.

 

Members noted there was a nearby pub in the High Street, the Harvest Moon, which had comparable hours to those being applied for. If the application was permitted Members felt this could help in preventing migration from the White Hart in the later hours.

 

For these reasons Members concluded that the application could be permitted as applied for, without harm to the licensing objectives.

 

Decision:

 

That the application for the premises licence for The White Hart, 106 High Street, Orpington be granted as applied for.

 

While not part of their formal decision, Members did recommend to the applicant that he may wish to consider, as part of his management of the pub, attending the meetings of the Local Safer Neighbourhood Police Team.

 

 

Supporting documents: