Decision

Application
Ref No: 25/01192/PREV
Date of
hearing: 7 November 2025
 
Sub-committee members: [Chair]:           
Councillor Richard Wenham

                 
Councillor Glen Saffery

 

Officers:     Kevin Chin,
Licensing

                  
Chinedu Njoku, Legal

                  
Barry Rennick, Democratic Services

                  

1.      This was an application
for a variation of a premises licence in
respect of:  Oddfellows,
14 Fearnley Street, Watford WD18 0RD
 

2.      The Sub-committee heard
oral evidence from the following witnesses:
 

1.     
Ms Kamila De Sa Teles – Objector and local
resident

2.     
Ms Cynthia Hall – Objector and local
resident

3.     
George Domleo – Applicant’s
Solicitor

4.     
Timothey Halpin – Applicant

5.     
Daniel Howard – Applicant

6.     
Letitia Jackson – Police, Responsible
Authority
           

3.      The following persons were also present but took no part
in the Hearing:

 

Daniel Pattenden Licensing Officer -
Observer

                          

4.      The Sub-committee also
took into account the representations from the following in their
absence:
           

1.     
Interested Parties as indicated in the
report.
 

5.      The following
representation was withdrawn prior to the
Hearing:
 
           
None
 

6.      The Sub-committee took
into account the following provisions of the Licensing Act
2003:
 

Sections:                         
Sections 34 and 35 (variation of a premises
licence)

                                        
The Licensing Act 2003 (Hearing) Regulations 2005 (as
amended)

 

         
Reasons:                     
These were the relevant sections of the Act for this
application.
 

7.      The Sub-committee took
into account the following provisions of the Secretary of
State’s guidance under section 182 of the Act (February
2025):
 

Paragraphs:        Prevention of
Crime and Disorder, paragraphs 2.1 – 2.7 Public Safety,
paragraphs 2.8 – 2.20

                           
Prevention of Public Nuisance, paragraphs 2.21 – 2.27
Protection of Children from Harm, paragraphs 2.28 –
2.38

                           
Paragraphs 8.41 – 8.49 (steps to promote the licensing
objectives and 8.66 (Licensing hours)

                           
Paragraphs 9.31 – 9.41 (Hearings)

                           
Paragraphs 9.42 – 9.44 (Determination)

 

                           
Chapter 10 (Conditions attached to premises
licence)
 

         
Reasons:            
These were the relevant paragraphs of the Secretary of
State’s guidance for this application.
 

8.      The Sub-committee took
into account the following provisions of its statement of licensing
policy:
 

Paragraphs:                
Policy LP1 – Premises
Definitions

                                      
Policy LP 2 – Location and operation of the
premises

                                     
Policy LP6 – Prevention of
Crime and Disorder Policy LP7 – Public
Safety

                                     
Policy LP8 – Prevention of public nuisance

                                     
Policy LP9 – Protection of children from
harm

                                     
Policy LP11 – Representations against applications
Policy LP4 –
Sensitive Licensing Areas (Whippendell Road between its junction
with Cassio Road and Hagden Lane)
 

Reasons:                     
These were the relevant policies of the Licensing Authority’s
Statement of Licensing Policy.
 

9.      The Sub-committee did not
depart from the guidance under section 182 of the Act.

 

10.    The Sub-committee did not make an
exception to its statement of licensing policy. 
 

11.    The Sub-Committee has resolved to
grant the application for the variation of the Premises Licence in
respect of the premises known as Oddfellows, 14 Fearnley Street,
Watford WD18 0RD, as applied for and those agreed with the
responsible authority.

 

Licensing Objectives
Considered

The Sub-Committee determined that all
four licensing objectives were relevant to this
application:

·               
Prevention
of crime and disorder

·               
Prevention
of public nuisance

·               
Public
safety

·               
Protection
of children from harm

 

Representations
Reviewed

The Sub-Committee considered all
written representations and heard oral submissions
from:

·               
Ms. Kamila
De Sa Teles and Ms. Cynthia – Objectors and local
residents

·               
Applicant’s
Solicitor - George Domleo, Applicant -Timothy Halpin, and
Representative -Daniel Haward

·               
Ms.
Letitia Jackson – Police Licensing Officer

Local residents expressed concerns
regarding crime and disorder, public nuisance, anti-social
behaviour, and public safety. They reported incidents of patrons
behaving aggressively outside the premises, urinating in the
street, broken glass found nearby, and noise levels that disrupted
their enjoyment of their homes during weekends.

 

Ms. Jackson, on behalf of
Hertfordshire Constabulary, supported the application. She
confirmed that the premises had previously operated under eight
Temporary Event Notices (TENs) replicating the hours sought in the
variation application. These events were well managed, and no
complaints were received. One incident occurred outside the
premises during the last event on 25 October 2025, which was
promptly reported and appropriately handled. Police raised no
concerns regarding the management of the
premises.

 

The Applicant’s Solicitor
stated that the premises are part of the Star Pubs Group, which
operates in over 38 cities. The premises is well managed, as
confirmed by the Police, and no Responsible Authority objected to
the application. The successful operation of previous TENs
demonstrated that the premises is a responsible operator committed
to working with residents. In addition to agreed conditions, it was
discussed with the Designated Premises Supervisor that an
additional condition may be agreed: no entry after 22:00
hours. They also agreed to provide the Designated Premises
Supervisor’s (DPS) telephone number and email address to
residents.

 

Sub-Committee
Findings

The Sub-Committee concluded that the
premises is well run and compliant with existing licence conditions
and licensing objectives. In determining the application, the
Sub-Committee was mindful of its duty to ensure, on the balance of
probabilities, that granting the variation would safeguard and
promote the licensing objectives.

The Sub-Committee therefore grants
the application to vary the Premises Licence, subject
to:

·               
All
conditions proposed and agreed with Responsible
Authorities

 

Reasoning and Legal
Considerations

The Sub-Committee is satisfied that
this variation will allow the business to continue operating while
ensuring that the licensing objectives are not
undermined.

 

In reaching its decision, the
Sub-Committee had due regard to:

 

·               
The
Licensing Act 2003

·               
The
licensing objectives

·               
Section
182 Guidance

·               
The
Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy

·               
The Human
Rights Act 1998

·               
The public
sector equality duty under section 149 of the Equality Act
2010

The Sub-Committee confirms that it
has fulfilled its duties under the Equality Act 2010 and considered
all written and oral evidence presented.

 

Advisory

The Sub-Committee encourages the
Applicant to:

·               
Provide
the DPS’s telephone number and email address to residents
upon request.

·               
Ensure
full compliance with all conditions attached to the Premises
Licence.

 
 
 
Right of Appeal
 
Under Schedule 5 of the Licensing Act 2003, the
applicant, any responsible authority, or any person who made a
relevant representation may appeal against this decision to the
Magistrates’ Court within 21 days of receiving this written
notification.
 
 

 

 
Signed [Chair]: 
Councillor Richard Wenham
                       
    Councillor Glen
Saffery
 
Date: 7 November 2025