Agenda and minutes

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The Chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual, or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The Chair referred to the filming of meetings and this information was noted.  

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were none.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Business. (Late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items will be dealt with under item 7 below).

There was no urgent business.  

There were no declarations of interest.  

The Committee will first hear from the Licensing Officer.  After that, the objectors will present their case and the Committee and applicant will have the opportunity to ask questions. Then, the applicant will present their application and the Committee and objectors will have the opportunity to ask questions. 

All parties will then have the opportunity to sum up, and then the meeting will conclude to allow the Committee to deliberate and reach a decision. This decision will then be provided in writing within five working days of this meeting.

The Chair provided a summary of the procedure for the meeting.  

To consider an application for a new premises licence.

Presentation by the licensing officer

Ms Daliah Barrett, Licensing Team Leader, informed the Sub-Committee that:

·      The application was for a new premises licence and the application could be found in appendix 1.

·      The application was seeking licensable activity for the sale of alcohol and late-night refreshment.

·      Should the application be granted, then the applicant would be able to offer live and recorded music under deregulated hours from 08:00 to 23:00 every day.

·      The hours that had been applied for could be found on paragraph 1.2 of the officer’s report. However, the report should read that late night refreshment had been applied for on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 02:00.

·      Representations had been received from residents and Responsible Authorities. Concerns related to the potential of noise nuisance. Representations also referred to the applicant’s existing premises which operated further up the road in the same area. There were concerns regarding the type of patrons that visited that particular premises and there was concern that the same issues would arise as a result of another premises being opened in the area by the applicant.

·      The premises had operated as a café in the past and was situated along a terrace of shops with residential units above it.

·      There was a planning application in place to extend the premises to the rear area.

·      It was not clear if there was an external area to be used for smoking.

·      Planning issues had not been finalised according to available information.

In response to questions, Ms Barrett informed the Sub-Committee that:

·      The Police representation still stood.

Presentation by the applicant

Mr Halit Ertas, the agent for the applicant and Mr Iko Essumbu, the applicant, informed the Sub-Committee that:

·      Some renovation was planned for the premises in order to add a few more tables. The only thing that would be new about the premises was the sale of alcohol, otherwise the use of the premises would generally be the same as it had been in the past.

·      The area was a slightly problematic area and the best way to deal with antisocial behaviour was to combat it. The businesses in the area were aware of the challenges, but the operating times for which the applicant was applying was within the hours operated by other licensed premises in the area. Those premises operated until 02:00 or until 02:30. Licensing was aware of this.

·      The planning application that had been submitted by the applicant had not been approved or refused. All relevant guidance had been followed.

·      No clarity had been provided as to why the application had not yet been approved and the applicant was open to any suggestions to make the premises appear acceptable from a licensing perspective.

·      The applicant had a record of paying his business rates, employing people and was generally flexible.

·      The property was currently vacant and was creating problems in the area due to its vacancy and could create further antisocial behaviour.

·      It was beneficial to the community for the application to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider any items of urgent business as identified at item 3.

There were none.