Agenda and minutes

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at the meeting.

Cllr Ejiofor was elected chair for the proceedings.

To note the apology for absence from Councillor Ali Demirci.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Demirci for whom Cllr Ejiofor substituted.

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 8 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 7^th September 2010 and 5^th October 2010.

The minutes of the Licensing Sub-committee A meetings on 7 September 2010 and 5 October 2010 were agreed as accurate records.

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 for a new premises licence by Erdal Durmus in respect of Butterfly Snooker Bar, 349c High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8JA.

The Committee was advised that the applicant and his representative had viewed prior to the meeting DVD video evidence provided by one of the objectors as part of their representation and had not put forward any objections to its showing during the proceedings.

The Licensing Officer, Ms Barrett presented the report on the application for a new premises licence at Butterfly Snooker Bar, 349c High Road, Wood Green N22 8JA. The premises was currently licensed as a snooker bar with provision for regulated entertainment and an application had been submitted for Committee consideration to permit the premises to be operated as a music and dance venue.

It was advised that a number of representations had been received from responsible authorities during the consultation period for the new licence. A representation had been submitted from the Metropolitan Police but this had since been satisfied and thereby withdrawn. This was following the applicants agreement to comply with the conditions put forward in relation to the minimum number of door supervisors and verification arrangements for proof of age determination of patrons.

A representation had also been submitted from the Council’s Enforcement Response team and seven letters of representation against the application received from local residents on the ground of public nuisance relating to the noise and anti-social behaviour of patrons smoking and congregating outside the premises, noise from music within the premises into the early hours of the morning and littering.

In response to a question, it was confirmed that the current licence was still in place but that as illustrated in photographs provided, the venue was not being operated as a snooker club. The new application had been submitted following an enforcement visit when the change of use became apparent and the applicant advised to apply for a new licence.

Derek Pearce from the Council’s Enforcement Response Team addressed the Committee and advised that it was considered that the licence application did not adequately address the prevention of public nuisance, in particular in relation to noise nuisance and the close proximity of nearby residents. A visit had been made to the premises last month in response to the application and it was determined that there was a high risk of disturbance for local residents from the premises from amplified music and people congregating outside in the front courtyard to smoke. Of particular concern was the glass frontage to the premises which would provide limited resistance to noise transmission and rendering the premises unsuitable for use as a nightclub. The Enforcement Team had proposed a number of additional conditions which the Committee could choose to impose including a maximum number of people to be allowed in the courtyard area at one time.

It was advised that two enforcement visits had been made to the premises in the current year including one in October in response to a complaint about noise nuisance from a neighbouring flat. The investigation had resulted in the issue of a warning letter to the licensee for nuisance caused  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

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

There were no new items of urgent business.