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Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Committee Room 4, Town Hall, Upper Street, N1 2UD

Contact: Jackie Tunstall  020 7527 3068

Items
No. Item

117.

Introductions and procedure

Minutes:

Councillor Heather Staff welcomed everyone to the meeting and officers and members introduced themselves.  The procedure for the conduct of the meeting was outlined.

118.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

None.

119.

Declarations of substitute members

Minutes:

None.

120.

Declarations of interest

If you have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest* in an item of business:

§  if it is not yet on the council’s register, you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent;

§  you may choose to declare a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest that is already in the register in the interests of openness and transparency. 

In both the above cases, you must leave the room without participating in discussion of the item.

 

If you have a personal interest in an item of business and you intend to speak or vote on the item you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent but you may participate in the discussion and vote on the item.

 

*(a) Employment, etc - Any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

(b) Sponsorship - Any payment or other financial benefit in respect of your expenses in carrying out duties as a member, or of your election; including from a trade union.

(c) Contracts - Any current contract for goods, services or works, between you or your partner (or a body in which one of you has a beneficial interest) and the council.

(d) Land - Any beneficial interest in land which is within the council’s area.

(e) Licences- Any licence to occupy land in the council’s area for a month or longer.

(f) Corporate tenancies - Any tenancy between the council and a body in which you or your partner have a beneficial interest.

 (g) Securities - Any beneficial interest in securities of a body which has a place of business or land in the council’s area, if the total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body or of any one class of its issued share capital. 

 

This applies to all members present at the meeting.

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

121.

Order of Business

Minutes:

The order of business would be as the agenda.

122.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 120 KB

Minutes:

 

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2024 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

123.

London Lebanese Grill, 120 St John Street, EC1V 4JS - New premises licence application pdf icon PDF 6 MB

Minutes:

The licensing officer reported that an updated plan with further information had now been circulated. Although the operating schedule was extensive, there was no explanation how they would manage the premises; although an email had been circulated to the licensing team in the afternoon. The application was outside framework hours.

 

The Licensing Authority stated that she had received the plan of the premises during the week and an email that day with a paragraph explaining the arrangements. The Licensing Authority had not changed its position and was concerned about where drivers would park as there was not much space close to the premises. The police stated that they had agreed conditions suitable for framework hours but could not condition outside these hours. These were standard conditions for late night premises.

 

In response to questions, it was noted that the email was sent today, the plan of the premises was sent on Friday.

 

The applicant stated that he had spoken to the delivery companies, and they had said that electric bikes could be used if they operated late hours. Drivers could park in the parking bay rather than just outside the premises. They wanted these hours as they were busy lunchtime, but the area did get busy later at night. There were no restaurants in the area. They had a lot of customers in the late evening and got increasing calls later up until 11pm. With later hours they would also get the benefit from customers that went to nightclubs as they would come around 2.30am.

 

In response to a question about the late submission, the applicant stated that the plan and email were due to be submitted ten days previously but were late as he had been ill. He had got help from friends as this was his first time in submitting an application. The Sub-Committee agreed to accept the late email submission in the circumstances.

In response to further questions, it was noted that there had been complaints about the extractor fan which was used when the premises was a café. Works to upgrade the extractor fan had taken place about two months previously, the food smell and gone and there had been no further complaints.  The parking bays were situated about 20 metres away. The applicant agreed that delivery drivers could use the toilets in the premises. He welcomed a good relationship with the late-night patrols as this would be good practice. The fire exits were always kept clear. Staff were trained in handling drunk customers and would remain calm and polite. They had not had any issues with customers but would ring police if a customer was out of control. They were open for eating in as well as takeaway, but the applicant would be happy if it was takeaway only during the later hours.  Soup was often given out to customers if they were waiting for food.  He was happy to accept additional conditions. 

 

In summary, the Licensing Authority stated that it was a decision  ...  view the full minutes text for item 123.

124.

Blooms Yard, 4-10 North Road, N7 9EY - New premises licence application pdf icon PDF 3 MB

Minutes:

The licensing officer reported that no further information had been circulated.  The applicant had sent a response to the residents, but this was included in the agenda pack. Two residents had written in to say that an interested party present at the meeting was speaking on their behalf. Residents were particularly concerned about the use of the yard at the rear of the premises.

 

The police had agreed conditions with the applicant and had withdrawn their representation.

 

The residents stated that there were many outlets selling alcohol in the area and there was a well-established association with the sale of alcohol and anti-social behaviour. There were 18 flats surrounding the premises and there was a concern if the premises changed hands. There was a door leading to the back yard and they were concerned that drinkers who smoked or vaped would stand outside in the back yard and cause a noise nuisance. They raised concerns that some neighbours had not been consulted as the 50-metre area had excluded some houses in error. This had previously been a factory and had been quiet at the weekend. Any noise at the back would reverberate like an echo chamber. Residents were also concerned that the grant of this licence would create a precedent, and the licence could not be taken away once it was given. They would not want a new licence granted that was from 8am to midnight, seven days a week. They would be less concerned with noise outside in North Road as this was a busier road.

 

In response to questions, it was noted that the previous use was offices and although there was mechanical noise all day it was quite quiet. Residents were not disturbed by The Depot which was opposite as patrons exited into North Road. The licensing officer reported that there were two potential houses that had been cut through by the area circle for consultation. The resident stated that she had been notified but only by luck through speaking to other neighbours.

 

The applicant stated that there had been some misunderstandings about the business. She had worked in hospitality for 20 years.  She started with this business in April 2020 as an online tea, coffee and wine shop and had opened her first shop in September 2020. She enjoyed making a space that people had enjoyed. This was not a pub, and she did not sell cheap spirits. She hoped to progress people to have careers in hospitality. It was more of a coffee led business, but she also hoped to offer a glass of wine. The hours requested sounded long but she wanted the flexibility to offer evening events with community engagement. Fridays were quiet now and she would generally not open at the weekend but would like the opportunity in case there was a Saturday brunch event for example. There was a red line on the plan around the premises. She did not have access to the back yard and the area did not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 124.