To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Carole Allaway Martin, Peter Ede, O’Neill, Marrilyn Smart OBE.

The chairman to identify any items of urgent business.

There was no urgent business.

To receive any declarations of interest in any matter to be discussed at the meeting.  Members and officers are requested to identify the nature of the interest and indicate whether it is personal or prejudicial.

Councillor Bruce Hogan declared an interest in the application as he was a Trustee and Treasurer of Lydbrook Memorial Hall and Recreation Ground Management Committee.

To consider Licensing application report E.47, Lydbrook Athletic Club.

The Chairman Len Lawton welcomed everyone to the meeting and invited Frank Russell, Senior Licensing Officer to present the application.

Frank Russell, Senior Licensing Officer, advised that the application was to extend the hours of operation for Lydbrook Athletic Social Club to 07:00 am to midnight seven days a week.

Frank Russell, Senior Licensing Officer stated that there had been representations from one resident, Lydbrook Parish Council, and the Trustees of the Lydbrook Memorial Hall, no representations had been received from any responsible authority.

Concerns had been expressed that an increase in hours was likely to result in an increase in the nuisance that the neighbours state they were already experiencing.  He referred to the plans of the premises which were covered by the Club Premises Certificate and that they showed a bar area in the Memorial Hall that was not within the area leased by the club.  The Club Certificate did not confer with any right to the club to occupy an area without permission of the owner.  He advised that this did not affect the licensing objectives so had to be rejected.  This situation already existed on the certificate when the Club Certificate was transferred to us from the Magistrates’ Court.

Frank Russell, Senior Licensing Officer, advised that Mr Hayward had made it clear that he believed the club played a valuable part in community life and is supportive of their aims and objectives, however he had indicated that noise from the use of the outside area impacted greatly on the enjoyment of his garden and home and did not wish for outside activities to be increased, in fact a reduction would be appreciated.  He also confirmed that he had checked with the Police and Environmental Health and there was no recent history of complaints regarding noise or unruly behaviour from the club.

The Chairman invited the applicant Nigel Cooper of Lydbrook Athletic Football Club to present his application.

Mr Cooper began by saying that the reason why Lydbrook Athletic Club has applied for a variation on their licence from 7:00 am until midnight seven days a week was to give more flexibility to opening hours as this would enable the club more flexibility time wise when worldwide events occurred.  He said currently the club opened for approximately 23 hours a week.  He stated that the club respected neighbours as much as possible.

The Chairman invited the sub-committee to ask questions.

Councillor Ian Whitburn asked for clarification on the types of events that took place at the club to which Mr Cooper advised that the club ran three football teams and two skittles teams, it was used by an Historical Society, an Older Persons Club, and occasionally was used to hold Wakes.

The Chairman invited Mr Hayward to present his objections.

Mr Hayward informed the meeting that he had sent in a second letter which was dated 30 July 2012, that had not been produced, after a slight delay the letter of the  30 July 2012 was circulated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.