Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest from Members.

There were no declarations of interest received.

The Sub-Committee considered a number of complaint records presented by Rosemary Green concerning which had led to a review of the Licence of the Bunk Inn, Curridge Road, Curridge RG18 9DS

In accordance with the council’s Constitution, Alan Lovegrove (Licensing Officer West Berkshire Council) and Rosemary Green (Senior Environmental Health Officer West Berkshire Council), Mrs Monger and Mrs Armstrong, supporters of the request to review, addressed the Sub-Committee.

Mr Alan Lovegrove, Licensing Officer provided Members with a verbal report at the meeting. Mr Lovegrove reported that on 13^th January 2011 West Berkshire Council Licensing Department received an application from West Berkshire Council Environmental Health – Pollution Team – Rosemary Green Senior Environmental Health Officer for a review of the Premise Licence for the Bunk Inn, Curridge, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9DS under Section 51 Licensing Act 2003. 

The consultation period ran from 14th January 2011 to the 10th February 2011.  Within the prescribed 28 day consulting period the Licensing Department received six other representations from three couples living in the vicinity (Mr and Mrs Monger, Mrs and Mrs Armstrong and Mr and Mrs Willsher)  The basis of their complaints centred around allegation  of noise nuisance from live and recorded music at the premises, and noise disturbance from people in the car park and leaving the premises.

Mr Lovegrove explained that the pane would be able to make one of the following decisions in relation to the license:

(a)       to modify the conditions of the licence;

(b)       to exclude licensable activity from the scope of the licence;

(c)        to remove the designated premises supervisor;

(d)       to suspend the licence for a period not exceeding three months;

(e)       to revoke the licence;

Ms Rosemary Green provided the panel with a verbal report setting out the reasons for the request to review the licence. Ms Green explained that she had applied for a review of the premise licence due to ongoing noise issues arising from the bunk Inn. The most recent occurrence being on New Years Eve when the Environment Health Service had received a call at 2.35am. Officers had visited the premise and had witnessed noise nuisance emanating from a karaoke machine between 03.05am and 03.56am. The officer also noted noise, shouting and tooting of horns, from patrons leaving the establishment.

During her presentation she circulated a number of complaint logs for the committee to consider. As this information had not been circulated to the attendees in advance of the meeting, and in accordance with the prescribed access to information policies of the Council, Ms Green stated that the five logs showed the action taken by the complainants and how they were affected.

Sarah Clarke (Solicitor) asked that the meeting be adjourned.  She asked the agent for the Licencee (Michelle Diogioa) if they would like five minutes to consider the logs. This offer was accepted. At the end of the five minute adjournment the agent (Michelle Diogioa) and Mrs Clark advised that they  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.