Agenda and minutes

Cllr Tim O’Kelly nominated Cllr Iain Ballantyne. This was seconded by Cllr Tracie Bangert.

Members and officers are reminded to make any declarations of disclosable pecuniary, personal and/or prejudicial interests they may have in respect of matters on the agenda for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

Little Monster Tap, 23 The Hornet, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1TY

Application for a Variation of a Premises Licence (Application Number -

23/00909/LAPRE1):

(a) Chair opens the Hearing.

(b) Items arising from Regulation 6 Notice (Notice of Hearing).

(c) Notice of any representations withdrawn.

(d) The procedure will then follow the Sub-Committee protocol and procedure note attached.

Mr Bennett outlined the history of the matter. He explained that there had been a hearing previously where an issue had arisen which meant that Council licensing officers had to investigate relevant allegations and that the previous Sub-Committee had to rise. This hearing is therefore a complete rehearing of the matter. Mr Bennett confirmed that the matter of concern had been the subject of investigation and that a sanction was applied. This was a formal warning under the criminal legislation which had been given in writing by the Licensing Manager.

The Chairman opened the hearing and invited Mr Knowles-Ley, Licensing Manager, to provide his report.

Mr Knowles-Ley presented his report as follows:

With respect to the responses received in connection with the statutory Notice of Hearing, confirmed that a total of eleven responses were received. Of these eight were received within the statutory time. The three late responses received were from Mr Brett Coleborn, Mr Farhad Massoumian and from the applicant. The applicant unfortunately incorrectly assumed that a previous response they had sent to another Notice of Hearing relating to a different date would be carried forward.

Mr Knowles-Ley explained that it would be a matter for the Sub-Committee to determine whether they wish to let Mr Coleborn, Mr Mike Jones on behalf of Mr Farhad Massoumian and representatives of the Little Monster Tap address the Sub-Committee.

Mr Knowles-Ley confirmed that no representations had been withdrawn.

Mr Knowles-Ley introduced those representing Little Monster Brewing Company Limited, Mr Brenden Quinn, Director supported by Ms Jane Fitch, Business Associate. He explained that the application was to determine the variation application submitted by Little Monster Brewing Company Limited seeking to vary the current Premises Licence it holds under the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of their premises located at 23 The Hornet, Chichester, PO19 7JL. 23 The Hornet was first licensed in 2017 and traded as a micro-pub under the name The Hornet Alehouse. In April of this year, Little Monster Brewing Company Limited were successful in transferring the Premises Licence in existence at that time. It is the understanding of this Licensing Authority that since April 2023, the general style and business model of the premiseshave not significantly changed.

A copy of the complete Premises Licence variation application is shown at Attachment B, pages 17-35 of today’s papers. To assist, within paragraph 4.6 of the officer report, shown at pages 6 and 7, is a table which confirms that the only licensable activity authorised to take place at the premises is the supply of alcohol. The tableshows the current licensed hours as well as the current opening hours, along with the proposed hours being applied for within the variation application.

For the avoidance of doubt, the variation application seeks a number of alterations. The first is to extend the existing hours for the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises by 90 minutes. Currently alcohol may only be sold until 21:30 every day and so should this application be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

(a)            items added to the agenda papers and made available for public inspection;

(b)            items which the chairman has agreed should be taken as matters of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be reported at the meeting.

There were no late items.