Agenda and draft minutes

The minutes of the meetings held on 30 July and 13 August 2025 were agreed and signed as a true record.

Guidance is available online to Councillors and co-opted members on making declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest.

Information on matters of urgency is available online

There were no matters of urgency.

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the Press) have been excluded. There is one itemwhich officersrecommendshould be dealtwithin thisway at agenda item 8.

There was one confidential item at minute 23.

The Chair introduced the members of the Sub Committee and advised that this was the reconvened meeting following the adjournment of the initial hearing on 30 July. At the meeting on 30 July all parties had been given the opportunity to put their case to the Sub Committee. The purpose of the reconvened meeting was to consider the additional information received since the adjournment of the hearing on 30 July.

Present at the meeting were: Mr Steven Chalkley, applicant for the review; Mr Stephen Spencer, accompanying Mr Chalkley; Mr Trevor Fudge, premises licence holder; Ms Michelle Anning, accompanying Mr Fudge; Ms Denise Thomas, interested person.

The legal advisor, Giles Salter, advised that all parties would be notified of the decision within five working days.

The Licensing Manager, Phillippa Norsworthy, introduced the report which included the additional information received and the evaluation by the Environmental Health Officer of the music noise levels generated from the Anchor Inn beer garden during Sidmouth Folk Week events.

The Environmental Health Officer, Ian Winter, provided a summary of his report following monitoring of noise levels at the Anchor Inn during Sidmouth Folk Week, with the aim of forming an acceptable balance of allowing events to continue without causing unfair disturbance for local residents.

The Environmental Health Officer responded to questions from Councillors and it was noted that effective control of noise levels from the sound desk was necessary.

The Sub Committee noted the submission from the applicant for the review. The Environmental Health Officer had previously responded to the applicant. The response was read out. It was noted that due to the inflexibility of the location, setting acceptable noise levels going forwards would mitigate noise disturbance.

The Chair thanked everyone for attending the meeting and advised that all parties would be notified of the decision within five working days.

The Vice Chair to move the following:

“that under Section 100(A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public (including the press) be excluded from the meeting as exempt information, of the description set out in the agenda, is likely to be disclosed and on balance the public interest is in discussing this item in private session (Part B)”.

Part B

RESOLVED:

That under Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public (including the press) be excluded from the meeting as exempt information, of the description set out in the agenda, is likely to be disclosed and on balance the public interest is in discussing this item in private session (Part B).

The purpose of the item was to determine whether the person named in the report is a fit and proper person to continue to be licensed as a Hackney carriage driver.

The Chair introduced the members of the Sub Committee and the officers in attendance.

The driver and a supporting person were in attendance.

The Legal Advisor, Giles Salter, outlined the procedure to be followed.

The Licensing Officer, Lee Staples, presented the report and outlined the reasons why the matter had come before the Sub Committee.

The Licensing Officer responded to questions from members.

The driver had no questions for the Licensing Officer.

With the agreement of the Chair, the supporting person, on behalf of the driver, addressed the Sub Committee and presented the driver’s case.  

The driver and the supporting person responded to questions from members.  

The Chair thanked the driver and the supporting person for attending and advised that the Sub Committee would retire to make its decision, which would be notified in writing within five working days.

The driver and supporting person left the meeting.