A public hearing on granting an alcohol licence to a Somerset arts centre has been postponed for the second time in a week after a councillor failed to attend.
The New Cross Arts Centre and tea room, located on the outskirts of South Petherton, offers employment and volunteering opportunities for adults and young people with learning disabilities. The centre applied to Somerset Council for an alcohol licence to serve drinks in its tea room and during fundraising events.
The licensing sub-committee south, responsible for applications in the former South Somerset area, scheduled a virtual meeting on November 27 to discuss the application. However, the hearing was canceled at the last moment when one of the three councillors on the panel, Councillor Hugh Davies, did not attend. This absence rendered the committee not quorate, forcing Councillor Martin Lovell to postpone the meeting.
READ MORE: No Immediate Plans to Close Cheddar Recycling Centre, Confirms Somerset Council
READ MORE: Garage and Contents Completely Destroyed in Early Morning Fire
Councillor Lovell stated: “Unfortunately, due to the fact that we are not quorate, we will need to postpone the meeting. We will aim to reschedule for the new year and will notify all parties with new proposed dates shortly. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope to hold the rearranged hearing as soon as possible.”
This is the second recent postponement involving council hearings. Just two days earlier, a similar delay occurred when Councillor Marcus Kravis failed to attend a hearing on the operating hours of the KFC restaurant and drive-thru in Bridgwater.
New dates for both hearings will be announced on the Somerset Council website in the coming weeks.