The Sub-Committee will elect a Chairman for the meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Davidson, seconded by Councillor A Cossens and:-

RESOLVED that Councillor Wiggins be elected as Chairman for the meeting.

The Committee is asked to note any apologies for absence and substitutions received from Members.

There were no apologies for absence submitted nor substitutions made on this occasion.

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee, held on Wednesday, 15 October 2025.

It was moved by Councillor A Cossens, seconded by Councillor Wiggins and:-

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee held on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registerable Interests of Non-Registerable Interests, and the nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

Councillor Wiggins declared for the public record that she held a personal licence, but that it had no bearing on her capacity to be a member of the Sub-Committee.

The application is made under the Licensing Act 2003 for the variation of a Premises Licence to request an increase of the opening hours, the sale of alcohol and late night refreshments throughout the week.

The Sub-Committee heard from the Licensing Manager that the application had been submitted under the Licensing Act 2003 for the variation of a Premises Licence to request an increase of the opening hours, and of the hours for the sale of alcohol and late-night refreshments throughout the week.

The premises had previously been described as a shop space situated in the High Street of Manningtree. Ground Floor rectangle single space, toilets and cellar access to the rear. Food preparations to rear of main room within a stud wall. Two access points – one from the main road and one from the car park space to the rear.

The applicant had proposed to open to the public on the following days/hours:

Everyday                                 12:00 – 00:30

The Sub-Committee was informed that the current opening hours had been as follows:

Monday to Saturday               12:00 – 23:00
Sunday                                    12:00 – 22:30

Proposed variations to the licensable activities were as follows:

Sale of Alcohol on and off the premises
Every day                                12:00 – 00:30

Late Night Refreshment
Every day                                23:00 – 00:30

Members heard that the current licensable activities hours had been as follows:

Sale of Alcohol on and off the premises
Monday to Saturday               12:00 – 23:00
Sunday                                    12:00 – 22:30

The variation application had been attached to the main report (A.1) as Appendix A.

The current premises licence had been attached to the main report (A.1) as Appendix B.

The Licensing Manager explained that no representations or objections had been received from residents in relation to the application.

One letter of representation had been received from Tendring District Council’s Planning Services who were a Responsible Authority. That letter of objection had been attached to the main report (A.1) as Appendix C.

The Sub-Committee was further reminded that each application must be considered in its own right and on its own merits only as to how it might impact on the four licensing objectives which were the Prevention of Crime and Disorder, the Prevention of Public Nuisance, Public Safety and the Protection of Children from Harm.

The Sub-Committee was therefore asked to determine this application taking into consideration the application in its own right and on its own merits and also all of the relevant information that had been submitted as part of the report and during the hearing itself.

Mr. Rowan Hunter, the applicant, addressed the Sub?Committee in support of the application. He outlined the challenges associated with operating a small business and noted that comparable premises in the vicinity benefited from later opening and serving hours than those currently permitted for his establishment. He further advised that he had received written confirmation from the sole resident potentially affected by the proposed extension of hours, indicating that they had no objections.

Mr. Matthew Ramsden, representing Tendring District Council Planning Services (the objector) spoke in opposition to the application. He referred to conditions imposed in 2018, which had been subsequently amended following consultation with residents. He asserted that the current application had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.