Agenda and minutes

Apologies were recevied from Coucnillor Patel who was substituted by Councillor Peacock who was the Chair of the sub-committee.

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 at item 8 below).

None.

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the Authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member’s judgement of the public interest.

None.

The Chair will explain the procedure that the Committee will follow for each of the hearings considered under the Licensing Act 2003. A copy of the procedure is attached.

To consider an application to provide a licensable activity in the form of Sale of Alcohol.

The Lead Licensing Officer, Daliah Barrett, presented her report to the Committee by outlining that a representation made by the Fire Officer had been withdrawn because he had been satisfied that the schedule of concerns he had submitted in respect of the premises had been dealt with by the applicants. Ms Barrett also highlighted to the Committee that there had been two letters of representation against the application from interested parties.

The Chair invited the objectors to address the Committee. Lee Hoddinott spoke on behalf of Ms I Fitzgerald by highlighting that other Lidl stores traded on a Monday to Saturday basis between 8am and 9pm, and between 8am and 5pm on Sundays. He also stated that there were other premises nearby to the applicant’s that were open for 24 hours and that therefore the area for adequately catered for in terms of the around the clock trading. Mr Hoddinott also highlighted what he perceived to be a lack of address for the licensing objectives by way of a lack of SIA door staff for the prevention of crime and disorder; no reference to staff training for the prevention of harm to children; the sale of alcohol of match days in plastic containers for public safety; the provision of CCTV equipment for the prevention of crime and disorder; and the existence of heavy advertising of cheap alcohol for sale on the premises.

The invited another objector to the application, Mr Store of Alexander Grove, to address the Committee. Mr Store highlighted the problem of street drinkers in the vicinity of the premises that caused public nuisance. He also stated that there was a problem with crime and disorder on match days and also when there are major events at Finsbury Park.

The Chair invited the applicant to address the Committee. Mr Gijs Heldstra, applicant, was represented by Ms Amanda Pillinger. Ms Pillinger began by highlighting to the Committee what the Lidl brand offered to the community and how the business was run in terms of its staff training and the company culture which would go a long way to settling local residents’ concerns. Ms Pillinger tabled a copy of the planning consent granted to the premises which had granted unrestricted traded in its terms.

Ms Pillinger continued that all of Lidl’s goods were own branded so that any litter on the streets would identify whether it had emanated from the premises. She also stated that Lidl worked in close partnership with the Local Authority and the Police to ensure the community is properly served in terms of upholding the four licensing objectives. Ms Pillinger stated that CCTV would be provided on the premises with extended recording facilities and on a hard disk for storing footage. In terms of staff training, Ms Pillinger continued that this included a full induction which indeed alcohol training, which was regularly updated for all staff. All staff sign a Alcohol Policy Register and are supervised by a Designated Premises Supervisor who holds a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider an application to provide a licensable activity in the form of sale of Alcohol.

The Lead Licensing Officer, Daliah Barrett, presented her report to the Committee.

The Chair invited the objector, PC Coffey, to present his case to the Committee. PC Coffey read the following statement:

“I am a Police Officer engaged on the Seven Sisters Safer Neighbourhoods Ward Policing Team. The activities of this Policing Team are mostly concerned with the ‘traditional’ style of Policing, where community interaction has been re-introduced following the response style of Policing that has become the norm which has prevailed in inner city areas of the Metropolitan Police Area, in more recent years.

“The Ward area of Seven Sisters includes the shop premises known as ‘Polish Food and Wine’, situated at 78 High Road, Tottenham, N15. This is at the junction with Wargrave Avenue N15, a residential street which runs from the east footway of High Road N15 down as far as Grovelands Road N15, on the perifary of the borough boundary with Hackney. The proprietor of this shop is Mr Haci Korkut.

“Since the inception of the Team, in April 2006, it has become evident that there are community concerns associated with the retail premises in High Road N15, which sell alcohol. A population of street drinkers have converged into this area. I can say that this has occurred for the following reasons: the area is disproportionally populated with young Polish males: this area falls outside of the area, which is covered with a ‘street drinking ban’ under the CJPO Act.

“This had led to numerous complaints from residents, especially in the area of Wargrave Avenue N15. These have included a decline in the quality of life of residents who have for a lengthy period of time suffered from the following instances of anti social behaviour, at the hands of street drinking Eastern European males: noise, litter, fighting and arguments into the early hours of the morning, urination in gardens and alleys adjacent to residential premises. Resident complain that they have to clean up broken glass from alcohol containers in order to prevent injury to local child residents, and on a daily basis have to treat their property with disinfectant due to the stench of urine, left from the evening before. It is reported to Police that on occasions, these young men, ‘Paraletic on drink’, have collapsed and subsequently slept in front gardens. A fear is that challenging groups will lead to violent confrontation. Calls to the Police 999 system are not dealt with as an immediuate response. This is because the nature of the activites are not considered to be emergencies. This has led to complaints about Police handling of such situations.

“It is strongly felt by community members that there are sufficient outlets in the area, which allow the purchase of large stocks of alcohol, sufficient to last groups of up to ten in number, throughout the night. This has been brought to Police attention numerous times as residents feel completely intimidated by these groups. Concerns as to the welfare and vulnerability of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider  an application to extend the time allowed for the sale of alcohol, and to provide regulated entertainments to it members.

RESOLVED

The Committee decided to grant the application in full having gratefully accepted the conditions offered by the applicants, namely that the terrace area not be used after 23:30 for drinking at any time of the year.

The reason for granting the application was that the Committee had no concerns, on the weight of the evidence, that the licensing objectives would not be promoted.

To consider any new items admitted under item 2 above.