Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED

That Councillor S Davies be appointed Chairman for the meeting.

Councillor S Davies in the chair

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda and for Members to declare if they have pre-determined any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider an application for the review of a Premises Licence for Knutsford Masonic Club, Leicester Warren Hall, Bexton Lane, Knutsford WA16 9BQ.

The Sub-Committee considered a report regarding an application for the review of a Premises Licence in resepct of Knutsford Masonic Club, Leicester Warren Hall, Bexton Lane, Knutsford, WA16 9BQ.

The following attended the hearing and made representations with respect to the application:

-       two applicants

-       two representatives of the applicants

-       three representatives of Knutsford Masonic Club

Representatives for the Masonic Club referred to procedural irregularities in serving notice of the application which they said invalidated the process and that in the circumstances the hearing should not proceed and the application process should re-start. In considering the matter, following representations from both sides, the Sub-Committee noted that the Council had made an appropriate compensatory extension to the period within which representations could be made. The Sub-Committee also noted that it had not been demonstrated that any of the parties involved had been substantially prejudiced as a result of the irregularities. On this basis, the Sub-Committee concluded that the hearing should proceed.

Representatives for the Masonic Club had circulated additional documents the day before the hearing. Copies had been provided to members of the Sub-Committee. Representatives of the applicants presented additional documents at the meeting which, with the agreement of the Club’s representatives, were circulated at the meeting.

The Council reported that it had received two additional objections to the licence, details of which were circulated.

The applicants and their representatives presented their case following which they were questioned by the other side and by the Sub-Committee. The applicants then made a summary statement of their case.

At the conclusion of this stage of the hearing, in view of the lateness of the hour, the Chairman proposed that the meeting adjourn and reconvene at a date to be determined following consultation with all parties.

RESOLVED

That the meeting be adjourned and reconvened at a date to be determined following consultation with all parties.