Agenda item

Ffestiniog Railway Company, St Helen's Road, Caernarfon, LL55 2PF

 

To consider the above application

Ffestiniog Railway, St Helen's Road,   Caernarfon

 

On behalf of the premises: Mr Stephen Greig (Caernarfon Station Manager)

 

Others invited:                      Mr Ian Williams, North Wales Police

 

a)            The Licensing Department's Report

 

Submitted – the report of the Licensing Manager giving details of the application for a premises licence for Caernarfon, Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway station, St Helen's Road, Caernarfon.  The application was made in relation to a multi-purpose building, which included a shop and ticket office for the railway, and a café. It was intended to sell alcohol on and off the premises, show films and stage dramas, have live and recorded music, dance performances and similar entertainment.

 

Attention was drawn to the details of the licensed activities and the proposed hours in the report. It was noted that the Licensing Authority officers had sufficient evidence that the application had been submitted in accordance with the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003 and the relevant regulations.

 

Reference was made to the measures recommended by the applicant to promote the licensing objectives along with the responses received during the consultation period. It was highlighted that these objectives would be included on the licence.

 

It was noted that an observation had been received from North Wales Police with a suggestion to include a condition for the applicant to install CCTV on the premises and to add the clause 'with 14 days' notice to the Police and Local Authority' in sections A,B,E,F,G,H, J and L where reference was made to 'non-standard times'.

It was recommended for the Committee to approve the application in accordance with what had been agreed with the Police and in accordance with the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003.

In considering the application, the following procedure was adhered to:

·      Members of the Sub-committee and the applicant were given an opportunity to ask questions of the Licensing Manager.

·      The applicant was invited to expand on the application.

·      Consultees were given an opportunity to present their observations.

·      The licensee, or his/her representative, was invited to respond to the observations.

·      Members of the Sub-committee were given an opportunity to ask questions of the licensee.

·      Members of the Sub-committee were given an opportunity to ask questions of the consultees.

 

b)            In expanding on the application, the applicant noted that he was happy with what had been presented.

 

He added the following observations:

·         He intended to install a CCTV system.

·         Non-standard times would be for special events (e.g. Christmas train journeys, volunteers' dinner).

·         That he accepted the conditions proposed by the Police.

 

c)         Exercising his right to speak, an officer from the Police confirmed that the Police had no objection to the application. He added that conditions had been proposed to the applicant and that they would need to be formalised. A condition was proposed which involved installing CCTV on the premises and adding the clause 'with 14 days' notice to the Police and Local Authority' in sections A,B,E,F,G,H, J and L where reference was made to 'non-standard times'. It was noted that the applicant had agreed to accept these conditions on the licence.

d)         The applicant withdrew from the room whilst the Sub-committee members discussed the application.

dd)       In reaching its decision, the Sub-committee considered the application form submitted by the applicant, written observations submitted by interested parties, and the Licensing Officer's report, as well as the verbal comments from the applicant at the hearing. The Council's Licensing Policy and the Home Office guidelines were also considered. All considerations were weighed up against the licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003, namely:

                       i.       Crime and disorder prevention

                      ii.       Public nuisance prevention

                     iii.       Ensuring public safety

                     iv.       Protection of children from harm

RESOLVED to approve the application 

 

a)            It was accepted that the Police did not object to the application but they recommended that additional conditions be imposed in relation to CCTV. In the opinion of the Sub-committee, these conditions were reasonable and commensurate and were proactive steps towards promoting the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder. The applicant had confirmed that he agreed with the observations.

 

The Sub-committee was satisfied that the licence application as amended, with the inclusion of the proposed conditions by the Police, was in line with the licensing objectives.

 

The Solicitor reported that the decision would be confirmed formally by letter and sent to everyone present.