Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on the 12 June 2024 having been circulated were signed as a correct record.

A meeting of the Regulatory Sub-Committee (acting as Licensing Committee under the Licensing Act 2003) of Halton Borough Council was held at Municipal Building, Widnes on Monday 30^th September 2024 commencing at 4.30pm.  

The meeting was held to hear an application made under section 34 of the Licensing Act 2003 for the variation of a Premises Licence at Banksy’s Bar Widnes. The application was amended during the hearing by the Applicant to reduce the end time to 11pm on Live Music, Recorded Music and Dance, and to include the condition on noise limiters agreed with the Environmental Health Department (wording annexed hereto) and the condition on admission of children to the premises agreed with Cheshire Police (wording annexed hereto) with all other matters remaining as set out in the Operating Schedule to the variation application.  It was this amended application that was determined by the Sub Committee.

In attendance were: -

• Members of the Regulatory Sub Committee comprising Cllr Pamela Wallace (Chair) and Cllr Irene Bramwell. (Cllr John Abbott sent apologies) (`the Sub Committee’)
• Piers Warne, (TLT Solicitors, Bristol) representing the Applicant - namely Bethany Owens (‘the Applicant’)
• Kim Hesketh (Licensing Manager)
• Alex Strickland (Legal Adviser)
• Wendy Pringle (Taxi Enforcement Officer – to observe proceedings)
• Philip Wilson (Environmental Health)
• Lynn Fletcher, Jane Hargreaves and Mr & Mrs Jones (‘Residents’)

The hearing was triggered as a result of the objections by the Residents who attended the hearing and others who did not, namely James Howard Smith and Jeanette Everitt. Councillor Eddie Jones also lodged an objection but was not able to be present at the hearing due to scheduling difficulties.

There were no representations from Responsible Authorities, other than for a condition on noise limiters suggested by the Environmental Health Department, the wording of which was agreed by the Applicant before the hearing and for a condition in respect of children being present on the premises which was agreed before the hearing by Cheshire Police. 

After the Chair of the Sub Committee had introduced the parties, the Legal Adviser outlined the procedure to be followed. The Licensing Manager presented the Licensing Report with appendices including Location Plan (Appendix A), the schedule of Licensed Premises in the local area (Appendix B), copy of the current Premises Licence with summary (Appendix C), the Variation Application (Appendix D), a copy of the objections (Appendix E) and extracts from policy and guidance (Appendix F) - setting out the nature of the application, noting that there had been no objections from responsible authorities, including Cheshire Police in respect of the prevention of crime and disorder/anti-social behaviour statutory licensing objectives (or otherwise) and that conditions had been agreed between the Applicant and Cheshire Police (regarding Children) and Environmental Health (regarding noise limiters).

DETAILS OF THE APPLICATION (AS AMENDED DURING THE HEARING)

Opening Hours

Monday – Thursday   11.00 to 00.30

Friday & Saturday      11.00 to 01.30

Sunday                     11.00 to 00.30

Live Music

Monday – Thursday    11.00 to 23.00

Friday & Saturday       11.00 to 23.00

Sunday                       11.00 to 23.00

Recorded Music  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.