Agenda and draft minutes

Please note this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method.  Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on.  By entering the ‘meeting room’, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

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 8 below).

There was no urgent business.  

There were no declarations of interest.  

The Sub-Committee will first hear from the Licensing Officer.  After that, the applicant will present their application and the Sub-Committee and objectors will have the opportunity to ask questions. Then, the objectors will present their case and the Sub-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 Sub-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 variation of a premises licence.

Presentation by the Licensing Officer

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

·      The report should read that the application was for a new premises licence.

·      The premises did previously hold a premises licence under the name of Q Vibes Limited. That particular company was found to have been dissolved, which meant that within the law, that licence had lapsed. The business had to apply for a new licence. Although the company was still trading under Q Vibes Limited, but had a different Companies House registration number.

·      The application sought the sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment, late night refreshment and recorded music Thursday to Saturday.

·      The premises would close at 02:00 Thursdays to Saturdays, at 00:00 Monday to Wednesday and at 23:00 on Sunday.

·      Representations had been submitted by the Police and also by the Noise team.

In response to questions, the Licensing Officer informed the Sub-Committee that:

·      It was the requirement of the licence holder to inform the Licencing Authority that the company had dissolved, but this had not happened. It was only because of an incident that arose that Licensing later had discovered that the company had been dissolved.

Presentation by the applicant

The applicant, Ms Janeth Wright and the applicant’s representative, Mr Lutumba Zinga, informed the Sub-Committee that:

·      The company was initially dissolved because the applicant had engaged an accountant and a business manager who was taking care of the legal aspects of the company, including in accounting and putting forward documents forward to Companies House had not completed the tasks. The applicant only found out about the position of the company after Licensing informed her that her company had been dissolved.

·      The business manager had defrauded the applicant and files were not put through to Companies House in time.

·      The applicant then took the necessary steps to recreate the company.

·      The area where the business was located had a lot of the gang issues and problems that had been happening in the area. The applicant had also been victim to pressures from gang members and neighbouring businesses who had made it their duty to try and gain her lease.

·      The applicant had been threatened and had been closed in her efforts to work with responsible authorities because she had been a target of gang members.

·      One of the shops next door to the premises had issues including with firearms and drugs and was involved in pressuring the applicant to relinquish her lease. This included making false accusations and making false calls to the Council.

·      The premises had been subject to some noise issues there are and this was something that needed to be worked on.

·      The applicant was happy to work with the Police and the Licencing team and to accept the proposed conditions.

·      Quotes had already been sought to install CCTV and to have heightened security on the doors when licensable activities were taking place. Dispersal signs would be put up to let people know as they were leaving where they could  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Application for application for a variation of an existing licence.

Upon the hearing the Licensing Officer’s report, Councillor Gunes stated that she had a declaration of interest as she had known the applicant for a number of years.

The Sub-Committee adjourned to consider the matter at 8:28pm and reconvened at

8:35pm.

The Sub-Committee felt that it was not appropriate to hear the application and decided to reschedule the application for another date.

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

There were no new items of urgent business.