Issue - meetings

To consider an application to allow the sale of alcohol, late night refreshment and regulated entertainment at the above premises.

The Special Licensing Sub Committee (the Committee) were asked to consider an application to allow the sale of alcohol, late night refreshment and regulated entertainment at the above premises.

The Licensing Officer presented the report and outlined purpose and recommendations.  She explained the background detailed at point 5.1 and the details of the application being sought under a new Premises Licence at points 5.2 -5.6.  The conditions attached to the current licence were detailed on page 13 of the agenda. 

The licensing officer went onto explain the relevant representations received from the Noise Team, Fire Officer and interested parties.  The representations from Health and Safety had been withdrawn as their issues were now covered under fire safety.  The noise team had made recommendations on the prevention of nuisance from noise.  The Fire Officer’s representations stated that the plans submitted did not adequately show how the premises would be managed. 

An objector questioned why the Police had withdrawn their representation.  In response the licensing officer explained the Police had requested door supervisors and child protection to be in place.  The applicant had agreed to comply with this.

The Fire Officer addressed the Committee and confirmed that objections has been raised regarding the plans submitted which did not adequately show:

1. escape routes from the rooms marked for private functions.
2. the travel distance maybe excessive from those rooms to places of relative safety.
3. the Plans do not indicate the licensed areas.

The Fire Officer further explained that a risk assessment had been requested from the agent in November 2007 but this had not yet been received.  Objectors questioned the Fire Officer on the capacity of the venue which the Committee had been advised was 150 and whether it was possible to evacuate that number of persons in an emergency.  The officer responded that in order to answer the questions raised the risk assessment would need to be provided however, there were two fire exits and with the assistance of the door supervisors it may be possible to evacuate 150 people in an emergency.

The Enforcement Officer informed the Committee that 30 complaints had been received about noise since 15 April 2007, that noise nuisance had been witnessed in the past year on a number of occasions resulting in the issue of warnings, abatement notices and a final warning issued on 15 October 2007.  The Officer advised the Committee that the service would not approve the extension of time requested in the application.

The Committee enquired of the enforcement officer whether they had continued to receive complaints after the noise limiter was fitted on 8 November 2007 and in response were advised that the limiter had been set to an appropriate level however, they had continued to receive complaints about the noise.  The applicant requested that it be noted that the limiter had been requested for three months and that upon receipt it had experienced a power surge which had affected its ability to limit the noise.  The enforcement officer responded that six complaints  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5