Issue - meetings

To consider an application to allow the Supply of Alcohol, the Provision of Late Night Refreshment, the Provision of Regulated Entertainment, Plays, Films, Indoor Sporting Events, Boxing or Wrestling Entertainments, Live Music, Recorded Music and the Provision for Making Music.

Dale Barrett, Licensing Officer, introduced the application for a new premises licence, as set out in the agenda reports pack.  The premises had previously operated as a snooker hall, but in 2010 a new licence was granted to permit regulated entertainment, and the premises was now used as a function hall with a restaurant now incorporated within the building.  The reason for this new application was that the previous company had dissolved, and the Applicant was applying for the premises licence under his own name.

Representations had been made by the Police (and subsequently withdrawn, following the agreement by the Applicant to the requested conditions), Environmental Health, Planning and Interested Parties.  The Applicant had agreed to all conditions requested by Environmental Health, except for those relating to hours.

Councillor Brabazon referred to the representation made by Planning and asked for Ms Barrett to comment on this.  Ms Barrett explained that she had tried to get clarification from the Planning department on this and her understanding was that there had been no previous issues with the hours as they had stood for the previous licence but that any use of the premises past the permitted hours of 08.00 – 03.00 would be a breach.  Antonios Michael, Legal Officer, added that potential breaches of planning permission should not be a consideration of the Committee when considering the application.

Martin Parrott, Interested Party, outlined his representation against the application.  Mr Parrott lived opposite the premises and had experienced the following issues:

·        Noise from people leaving the premises at 03:00

·        Noise from cars driving away from the premises at 03:00

·        Parking issues

·        Large numbers of people congregating in the streets

Mr Parrott explained that he had not experienced these issues when the premises was a snooker club, it was only since the premises had started to be used as a music / party venue.  He requested that the Committee refuse the application.

In response to Councillor Brabazon, Mr Parrott stated that the late night noise disturbance was mainly at the weekends, Sunday night being the worst.  He had contacted the Council noise team some time in December and they had attended the premises to turn the music down.

In response to Councillor Beacham, Mr Parrott explained that he slept at the rear of his premises with the windows closed, and he was still disturbed by the noise.

Derek Pearce, Enforcement Response Service, outlined the representation against the application.  A number of conditions were requested for inclusion in the operating schedule, all of which, except for the one referring to opening hours of the premises, had been agreed by the Applicant.  Mr Pearce stated that in order for the Enforcement Response Service to be satisfied, the closing time of the premises should be 02.00 on weekdays and 03.00 at weekends.  He referred to noise complaints and explained that some complaints were made with regards to the Bruce Grove area, and it was hard to attribute a complaint to a particular premises.

In response to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33