Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a chairman for this hearing. 

Councillor Ron Mansfield was elected as chair of the panel.

To receive any declarations of personal or personal and prejudicial interests in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting. 

None.

To note the procedure for this meeting. 

The chair outlined the procedure, contained in the agenda pack.

To consider the head of legal and democratic service’s report.  

Presenting the case for Abingdon on Thames Town Council were Nigel Warner, Town Clark and Karen Webb Guildhall Supervisor.

Councillor Tony de Vere, district ward councillor for Abbey and Barton, presented the case for the residents, who objected to some aspects of the application. He was accompanied by two residents: Patricia Atkins and John Atkinson. Councillor Julie Mayhew Archer, district ward councillor for Abingdon Abbey and Barton, was also in attendance.

The licensing officer presented her report. She confirmed that the applicant had accepted the conditions.

Nigel Warner presented the case for the applicants. He made the following points.

• The Guildhall is under used.
• The current hours are restrictive to the development of the Guildhall.
• The Town Council wishes that the Guildhall will move towards a more self-funded model and require less subsidy from council tax payers.
• The Town Council wish to retain the viability of the Guildhall as a community facility and for it to contribute to the economic vitality of the town centre.
• Abingdon on Thames Town Council is a responsible organisation and historically complaints have been very low. The Town Council tries to reduce noise disturbance by using a noise limiter and alarming doors to prevent them being left open.
• There are no concrete plans to develop wrestling and boxing at the Guildhall: these have been included in the application to provide flexibility.
• The Guildhall is responsible in refusing to serve people who have had too much to drink and the off sales licence is also to provide flexibility.
• The designated smoking area is at the bottom of the front steps.
• There is no intention of operating the bar as a stand alone facility outside of functions at the present time.

The interested parties case was presented by Councillor Tony de Vere. As part of his case he read statements from a group of residents from Abbey Close and Checker Walk; Mr Sayers, a local resident; Dr Halliday a local resident. (Dr Halliday is a district councillor but his representations were being made in a personal capacity.) Councillor de Vere and the residents made the following points:

• The local residents already suffer from noise pollution late night/early morning from the Guildhall and other establishments.
• A lot of noise is generated from staff throwing bottles in bottle banks at the end of events.
• Events at the Guildhall create base noise and vibration.
• Many of the local homes are listed buildings and cannot install double glazing to reduce the noise.
• Guests make noise when they leave the Guildhall.
• Doors are left open during events.

• Local residents have suffered nuisance, noise and petty vandalism for up to an hour after events finish.
• Some elderly residents are afraid after events at the Guildhall and other establishments as people come onto the curtilage of their properties causing a nuisance and knocking on doors.
• There have been few complaints registered with the district council as residents had dealt directly with the Guildhall.

Daniel Smith, the licensing lawyer advising the panel, advised that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.