Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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 deal with at item 7 below).

There were no items of urgent business.

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 he 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 and if this interest affects their financial position or the financial position of a person or body as described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct and/or if it relates to the determining of any approval, consent, licence, permission or registration in relation to them or any person or body described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting of the Licensing Sub Committee A held on 14 May 2009 and the special meeting of the Licensing Sub Committee A held on 28 May 2009.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Licensing Sub Committee A held on 14 May 2009 and the special Licensing Sub Committee A held on 28 May 2009 be approved and signed by the Chair.

The Chair will explain the procedure that the Committee will follow for the hearing considered under the Licensing Act 2003 or Gambling Act 2005.  A copy of the procedure is attached.

NOTED

To consider an application by The Old Aloysians to allow the provision of regulated entertainment and the supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to, or to the order of, a member of the club and the sale by retail of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to a guest of a member of the club for consumption on the premises where the sale takes place at the premises.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, and advised all those present that the meeting would be recorded and broadcast on the Council’s website.

The Licensing Officer, Ms Barrett, presented the report on an application for a Club Premises Certificate at The Old Aloysians, St Aloysius College Sports Field, Hurst Avenue, Hornsey. Ms Barrett explained the nature of a Club Premises Certificate to those present, and advised that a Designated Premises Supervisor was not required under such a licence. Representations had been made by the Police but these had been withdrawn following agreement from the applicant, and a number of letters of representation had been received from local residents, expressing concerns regarding anti-social behaviour, noise nuisance, the negative example being set for young people, drink driving and the inappropriateness of a commercial premises in a residential area. Ms Barrett reported that the applicants had updated the opening hours applied for to finish at 2330, Monday to Sunday, with all licensable activities ceasing 30 minutes prior to closure each day.

In response to a question from local residents, Ms Barrett reported that the assessment of noise nuisance was subjective, and that the Council’s noise team would respond to concerns at any time of day in order to determine whether the noise reported constituted a nuisance. It was noted that the noise team had not made any representation on the application. Ms Barrett reported that the noise team did have access to the records of all previous occasions on which they had been contacted regarding noise complaints.

Ms Barrett clarified that the application had been submitted by the club ‘The Old Aloysians’ and that the club had its own constitution. Ms Barrett further clarified that the Licensing Sub Committee could not consider planning matters.

Local residents spoke in objection to the application. It was reported that the introduction of commercial activity into a residential area would affect the ability of local residents to enjoy a peaceful lifestyle. Concern was also expressed that, as it was observed that most people using the playing fields arrived by car and did not use public transport, there would be an issue with drink driving and public safety on the local roads.

Local residents expressed concern that children would be harmed by the sale of alcohol on property owned by a charitable trust set up to benefit pupils at the school. Children would be aware of the existence of a bar on school premises, although they would not be permitted to enter. Residents also expressed concern that the premises would cause a nuisance in a quiet residential area as, in the previous pavilion, loud music had disturbed the sleep of residents in Hurst Avenue and Stanhope Road and requests to turn the music down had been responded to in an aggressive fashion. Residents expressed fears that patrons leaving the premises would lead to an increased risk of crime and damage to property, particularly if they had been consuming alcohol.

In response to questions from the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider any new items of admitted under item 2 above.

There were no items of urgent business.

The meeting concluded at 22:40hrs.