Agenda and minutes

Councillor Benstead was appointed as Chair.

No interests were declared.

All parties noted the procedure.

The Assistant Licensing Officer presented the report and outlined the application to review a premises licence for Stevenson’s Floating River Bar, Quayside, Cambridge.

 

Councillor Benstead reminded those present that an application for review had the same powers as a committee considering a new application.

 

Applicant

 

Mr Ramsey made the following points as the Applicant:

 

i.                Conservators of the River Cam had concerns about a floating bar on the river.

ii.               The bar impedes the free flow of river traffic.

iii.              The River Bailiffs had raised safety concerns.

iv.             The punt in question was also used as a chauffeur punt and had been involved in a serious accident that had resulted in a serious injury to a member of the public.

v.              The punt was being used as an unlicensed tour boat.

vi.             Conservators of the River Cam would consider whether to end the option of vending punts at their meeting in January 2016.

vii.            Would like to request that the committee either revoke the premises license or add a clause requiring the punt to also hold a licence from the Conservators of the River Cam.

 

Members commented that it could be part of a wider picture with the river being overused. The Chair stated that this was not a consideration for this committee.

 

Members’ Questions

 

In response to Member’s questions, the applicant confirmed the following:

 

viii.          Prevention of Crime and Disorder had been listed as a reason for the review. However, there was no evidence of crime or disorder.

ix.             Legal ownership of the punt had been separated from ownership of the Premises Licence.

 

 

Statement from Licence holder

 

The Assistant Licensing Officer confirmed that Ms Stevenson had sold the punt some time ago but had retained the Premises Licence. In addition, the original licence did not identify a particular punt; the licence could be applied to any punt moored at Quayside opposite Magdalene College.

 

The Assistant Licensing Officer read out a statement from Ms Stevenson summarised as follows:

 

x.              Sold the boat at the beginning of the year.

xi.             Informed the Licencing Authority that the bar would not be running again until 2016.

xii.            Was informed by the Conservators of the River Cam and the Assistant Licensing Officer that the two males, who had purchased the punt, had continued to run it as a bar without her permission.

xiii.          Is in full agreement with the suggested conditions.

xiv.          Was keen to work in partnership with other parties to ensure river users were safe.

xv.           Sought to restart her business next year and wanted to run it legally and professionally.

xvi.          Future hours would be 10am to 7pm.

xvii.        Boat would be staffed by two people who would be in a uniform and fully trained.

xviii.       Punt would be painted with Pimm’s mechanising to distinguish it from other punts.

xix.          No stock would be stored on the punt.

xx.           Sought to give the public a memorable experience of the River Cam.

 

Responsible Authority

 

Mr Ducket addressed the committee and made the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15/32/Lic