Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

The Chair opened the meeting and asked those present to introduce themselves.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

No interests were declared.

To review the premises licence for The Langs Bar, St. Michaels Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3DW.

The Senior Lawyer (Contentious) clarified that the additional documents had been circulated towards the end of the previous week and also immediately prior to the meeting. The documents were from all parties who were presented, minus Kent Fire and Rescue Service and would be considered by the Licensing Sub-Committee and their decision on any matters contained in those documents would be part of their decision.

The Chair asked the Licensing Team Leader to introduce the report.

The Licensing Team Leader introduced the report which asked Members to consider a review of premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003 at Langs Bar, St. Michaels Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3DW.

The Licensing Team Leader referred to the review application as set out at Appendix II of the report.

The Licensing Team Leader explained that as part of the review, the Applicant requested  additional conditions be imposed on the premises license and/or suspension or revocation of the license in order to secure the promotion of the licensing objectives. The Applicant included a list of suggested conditions on the final pages of their supplementary document pack which was circulated by email prior to 10 November 2025. She reported that when the review application was received there was the statutory 28-day consultation period during which the responsible authorities, as well as interested parties, had the opportunity to comment on the application. In this case, the Kent Fire and Rescue Service Building Fire Safety Inspector made comments relating to a recent inspection and this  was set out at Appendix IV of the report. The Swale Borough Council Environmental Health Officer made a representation with a request for a noise management plan for the premises  as set out at Appendix V of the report.

The Licensing Team Leader reported that during the consultation period three representations were made on behalf of local businesses (Vanguard Properties UK Limited, Loungers UK Limited, Travelodge Hotels Ltd) that were situated near to the premises. These objections were based on three of the four licensing objectives of: prevention of crime and disorder, protection of public safety, and prevention of public nuisance. Their representations were set out at Appendices VI, VII, VIII of the report.

The Licensing Team Leader said that the Applicant and Objectors had submitted further supporting evidence which had been circulated to all interested parties.

The Chair asked the Applicant to present their case. 

The Applicant’s Legal Representative outlined the landlord’s concern about public safety which had led to the review.

The director of the Dacorum Capital Limited, the Landlord for the building, addressed the Sub-Committee and said the following:

·         Over 18 months the current license holder had not been acting responsibly, fire safety issues had been outstanding for a long time;

·         in April 2024, he had asked the Premises Licence Holder to provide copies of his statutory documentation, including: a fire risk assessment, gas and electrical safety certificates, PAT testing certificates, and an asbestos management report, but had received no responses;

·         by late 2024, the Premises Licence Holder sent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 486.

The meeting was adjourned from 12.30 pm until 1.34 pm, 2.10 pm until 2.11 pm and 4.07 pm until 4.18 pm.