Issue - meetings

To consider an application to allow the Provision of Regulated Entertainment and the Supply of Alcohol at the above premises.

The Chair ran through the procedure for the hearing, and in response to a question regarding late documentary evidence from either party, Cllr Bob Hare sought permission to submit a letter received from a local resident in relation to the application. The applicants considered the additional evidence and raised an objection to its submission, the request to submit the late documentation was therefore declined.

The Licensing Officer, Dale Barrett, considered the report on an application for a premises licence variation at Caipirinha Jazz Bar, 177 Archway Road, Highgate, London N6 5BL. Representations had been received from the Police, Environmental Health, Planning and numerous letters of objection had been received from local residents objecting to the application. Representations had been made on a number of grounds, including those of noise nuisance, litter, traffic, anti-social behaviour, crime and the unsuitability of the hours applied for in the this residential location. The Licensing Officer advised that the DPS would no longer be Mr O’Brien as set out in the report, and that a new DPS would be appointed.

Derek Pearce, Enforcement, addressed the Committee on the representation made by Environmental Health, which outlined the history of complaints in relation to the premises, specifically over the past 12 months, and concluded that it would not be appropriate to extend the hours of this premises at the present time. Mr Pearce responded to questions and, in response to a query regarding traffic noise on the Archway Road, reported that although it was a busy road, traffic noise in the area reduced significantly from 11pm to midnight.

Several local residents and Cllr Bob Hare, Ward Councillor, addressed the Committee in objection to the application. Local residents reported that nuisance was caused by the existing hours, and that any extension would make things worse. It was reported that this was a residential area which was unsuited to this type of premises, and those living close to the premises had complained of disturbance, particularly bass frequencies from the music and noise from patrons arriving at and leaving the club. Granting the extension would have a negative impact on quality of life in the area. Local residents also reported parking issues caused by patrons of the premises and noise caused by the slamming of car doors late at night.

Cllr Hare echoed the views of local residents, and emphasised the number of residential properties in the immediate vicinity of the premises. Local residents would welcome a well-managed business, but not until such late hours. Concern was expressed that very late night activity in the area would lead to an increase in complaints regarding the premises, where there was already a history of problems, and an extension of hours in these circumstances was very undesirable.

In response to questions from the Committee, it was confirmed that, given the history of issues with previous owners of the premises, residents were frightened to make complaints. The Committee asked whether the representations made regarding the premises applied to the period since the current  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5