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An Emergency Special Meeting of Stoke Gabriel Parish Council was held on 13^th October 2003 at 6pm

 This meeting was called specifically to discuss an application for a liquor licence at the Gabriel Court Hotel

 Present: Mr. R Tully (Chairman), Mrs. C Hunt, Mr. I Jones, Mr. B Tarr, Miss P Ellis, Mr. N Hill, Mr. W Deval, also Mr. C Wigfall (from 6.50pm)

 Apologies – Mrs. R Rowe

Mrs. Rowe was unable to attend the meeting but stated that, if she had been present, she would have declared an interest and would be unable to participate in the discussion.

The Chairman thanked the Councillors for attending at short notice and explained the reason for the meeting.  He read out a letter which the Parish Council had sent to the Clerk to the Justices and which had been read out in court on 3^rd October.  This stated:

“Although the Parish Council does not wish to make a formal objection to this application, it would like to make the following observation: The hotel is situated in a built up area of a rural Devon village and the Council wishes to express its concern at the proposed granting of a full licence and the possibility that this may detract from the nature of the business.”

The Chairman explained that the applicants were unable to attend this meeting due to work commitments, but that he and a fellow Councillor had had a meeting with them.  The owners wish to state that they intend to run the Gabriel Court Hotel as a country house hotel and that, although they wish to expand the business, they do not intend to compete with other public houses in the village.

Some of the parishioners present then gave their views and concerns about the proposed licence.  PC John Hodgson answered questions about the type of licence already held at the hotel, and the implications that the change of licence may have.  He also stated that the police would not be objecting to the licence on this occasion, but pointed out that all licences are reviewed annually.  Members of the public then left the meeting.

There followed a meeting of the Parish Council at which the Council discussed the matter at some length.  It was unanimously agreed that the Council would not object to the licence being granted.  It was also agreed to post the following notice on the Parish Council notice board within 24 hours of this meeting:

“The Parish Council noted the strength of feeling, as represented by numerous letters, and concerns raised at the meeting by the residents, but do not however see any valid reason to change its original point of view. 

It is worth noting that the police authorities routinely review all licenced premises on an annual basis and therefore it is recommended that parishioners monitor any future developments that could sustain any valid objection, advising the Parish Council, so that appropriate action could be taken.”

The Council also agreed that the above notice be incorporated into a letter to be sent to the Clerk to the Justices in time for the next hearing at Totnes Magistrates Court on 17^th October 2003.  The meeting closed at 7.40pm