Agenda and minutes

In accordance with the Council's current Code of Conduct (adopted July 2012), which includes all the provisions relating to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI), personal and prejudicial interests , Members are asked to declare any DPI and also any personal interests (and whether or not such personal interests are also "prejudicial") in relation to any matter on the Agenda for this meeting. A DPI is defined in The Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012 No. 1464) and Appendix 3 of the Council’s Code of Conduct.  A personal interest is defined in paragraph 2.8 of the Code and a prejudicial interest is defined in paragraph 2.9. In the interests of complete transparency, Members of the County Council, who are not also members of this committee, are encouraged to declare any interests they may have in any matters being discussed even though they may not be under any obligation to do so under any relevant code of conduct.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Committee noted the procedure to be followed when considering Licensing Applications under the Licensing Act 2003.

The Chairman confirmed the following:

·         That the Officer’s report relating to the case, the procedure to be adopted during the hearing and the documents which the authority is required to provide under the Regulations had been received by all Parties in advance of the meeting;

·         That the representations from Avon and Somerset Constabulary, the Planning Service and the Environmental Protection Team had been withdrawn in light of the amended application.

The Licensing Officer explained that the main differences between the original application and the amended application were that all regulated entertainment had been withdrawn from the application and the other changes to the operating schedule were as follows:

Light Night refreshment - Mon-Sun 23.00 until midnight for guests of Agusta Westland; Non-standard timings 24 hr for resident guests of Agusta Westland – (it is only licensable from 23:00 and 05:00)

Supply of Alcohol (On and Off Sales) - Mon-Sun 10.00 until midnight for guests of Agusta Westland; Non-standard timings 24 hour alcohol sales for resident guests of Agusta Westland.

Hours open to the Public (Not a licensable activity) – Mon-Sun 10.00 until midnight for guests of Agusta Westland, 24 hours opening for resident guests of Agusta Westland.

The Licensing Officer presented the report as detailed on page 8 of the agenda and drew members’ attention to the following points:

·         An application had been received from Elinor UK Holdings Ltd, for a premises licence to be granted under the Licensing Act 2003 for Thorne House, Thorne Coffin Yeovil;

·         The licensable activities applied for as amended included late night refreshment and supply of alcohol;

·         The applicant had confirmed that a notice had been displayed at the premises for the requisite period; the Licensing Officer had visited the premises and confirmed that notices were in place.  A further notice was placed in the Western Gazette;

·         The three representations from the Responsible Authorities had been withdrawn;

·         Fifteen relevant representations representing twenty persons were received from individuals and one relevant representation was received from a Parish Council;

·         Three letters and an email representing four persons were also received but not considered to be relevant representations;

·         A representation had also been received from a solicitor representing thirty local residents, fifteen of which were included in the twenty persons from whom a  relevant representation was received, four persons letter or email of concern was not a relevant representation and eleven other persons whom had not submitted an individual relevant representation;

·         The regulated entertainment element of the application had been withdrawn;

·         The supply of alcohol and late night refreshment would be restricted to guests of Agusta Westlands;

·         Members were informed about the Licensing Act 2003 being amended with regard to live amplified music and record music between 08:00 and 23:00 for up to 500 persons as outlined in the agenda;

·         The options available to the Committee;

·         The Right of Appeal as outlined in the agenda.

The Chairman invited Paul Coombs, Head of Site Facilities, Agusta Westland to address the Sub-Committee.  He advised that Agusta Westland had used Thorne House for over fifty years.  Thorne House was a country property with six bedrooms and a clock house which was used as a meeting facility.  Thorne House was used for conferences and internal meetings as well as meetings with perspective customers from the UK and aboard.  He explained that due to changes in legislation regarding bribery and corruption and to be as transparent as possible in business dealings they were required to issue a receipt to their guests during their stay at Thorne House.  He highlighted that to comply with the law and relevant rules and regulations they could not currently sell alcohol to their guests, the premises licence would allow any guests/VIPs/representatives attending the property to be provided with an invoice.  Paul Coombs explained that there are six bedrooms and the maximum number of guests staying at the property at any one time would be twelve but was typically less and more like six people as very rarely do they have couples staying, it was usually single guests that would stay.  With regard to larger groups attending for meetings and corporate events, the capacity would normally be no greater than thirty people.  He informed members that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.