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Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Jackie Tunstall  020 7527 3068

Items
No. Item

181.

Introductions and procedure

Minutes:

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

182.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Aysegul Erdogan.

183.

Declarations of substitute members

Minutes:

Councillor Rakhia Ismail substituted for Councillor Aysegul Erdogan.

184.

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.

185.

Order of Business

Minutes:

The order of business would be as the agenda.

186.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 142 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 2017 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

187.

Coach and Horses, 26-28 Ray Street, EC1R 4DJ - Premises licence new and variation applications pdf icon PDF 15 MB

Minutes:

The licensing officer reported that there were further documents circulated following despatch with the agenda.  These would be interleaved with the agenda papers.  He reported that there had been two temporary events reflecting the hours proposed from Tuesday 16 January to Sunday 21 January and from Tuesday 23 January to Sunday 28 January. These were for on sales only.

 

The licensing authority reported that they maintained their representation.  They were happy with the proposed hours but had concerns over the use of the outside area and proposed a 9pm close for the rear garden and 10pm cut off time for taking drinks outside the front.  The authority raised concerns over how the front area would be managed.

 

The noise officer, acting as a witness for the licensing authority, had submitted proposed conditions. She requested 8pm closure at the rear and 9pm at the front.  She considered that a 10pm close for the rear area was far too late as the area was surrounded by flats with bedrooms facing onto the rear garden and noise would reverberate around the area.  She stated that there should be no vertical drinking outside the front and alcohol should be ancillary to food in the rear garden.  Lighting should also be moved to go in a downward direction.  She considered that these conditions would be reasonable and proportionate.

 

The police stated that they had withdrawn their objection as the applicants had reduced their proposed hours.

 

The residents were in agreement with the comments made by the noise officer.  Flats looked over the garden, the direction of the lights were already a problem and the noise at the front and the rear was already an issue.  There had been a lot of noise over the weekend and even where only three or four people were having a conversation the noise would reverberate.  The resident wanted the premises to succeed but could not see the business case for later hours when all restaurants in the area closed at 10.30/11pm.  Another resident stated that extended hours would allow people on the street later at night regardless of the operator.  There were no similar establishments with a late licence.  Smokers would be outside and did not need a drink in their hand to cause disturbance. A management plan could not mitigate concerns.  Residents were already experiencing lots of noise which was fundamentally around the licensing hours and not just drinking alcohol. One resident stated that customers had been outside at 1.30pm.  Tables and chairs should be cleared and had not been until after 9 or 10pm.  Lighting was an issue and had still not been rectified. Later closing meant later taxi collections at half past midnight.  Residents considered the hours to be too late.

 

In response to questions, the residents stated that there had been more disturbance over the two weekends when the temporary event notices were on. Customers were having conversations on their phones and hanging around once the premises was closed.  This was a very quiet residential  ...  view the full minutes text for item 187.

188.

Ellipsis Immersive Theatre, 132 Goswell Road, EC1V 7DY - New premises licence application pdf icon PDF 3 MB

Minutes:

The licensing officer reported that there were papers from the applicant’s representative that had been circulated separately.  These would be interleaved with the agenda papers. It was noted that the representation on page 174 of the agenda had been withdrawn as a bottling out condition had been agreed that stated there would be no bottling out between 10pm and 8am Mondays to Fridays and not on Sundays.

 

Local residents raised concerns that there had been two refused planning applications in recent months and Ellipsis only held the lease until October.  The conditions allowed 75 people as a maximum number and they would like this number reduced.  It was noted that the entrance was on Peartree Street which was a residential road and which already had a certain amount of noise which amplified.  It was considered that even a small group of people could cause a disturbance 7 days a week.  They raised concerns about taxi parking as there was limit space on a single width road.  Users should be directed away from the venue, capacity limited to 60 users and the hours were too long and should be reduced with no opening on Sunday.  They also raised concerns that this was an open ended application which was unrestricted and stated that concerns raised should be reflected in the conditions.

 

In response to questions, it was noted that capacity numbers were not restricted in conditions. It was considered that the hours for the sale of alcohol should end at 10pm.  There should be a management plan to include flow of traffic and people.  It was noted that the licence would be time limited.  It was noted that bedrooms overlooked the narrow street and the late hours and the number of days a week that the events were held would be a concern. There would be new events every six minutes and they would be held until midnight which would have an impact.  The street was very narrow and noise travelled as in a canyon. This was a narrow street and the whole of the main building opposite was residential.  

 

The applicant’s representative stated that this was an immersive theatrical experience with groups of 6 people at 10 minute intervals.  There would be constant supervision by at least one member of staff.  Each showing would last for 1 to 1 ½ hours and there would be a last entry time of 9.30 pm.  This would be a time limited project.  They were confident that the lease would extend after October but were not concerned if it did not run until after 2019.  Noise assessments were ongoing.  There were controls regarding noise outbreak and the additional papers detailed the dispersal policy, the lobby would be permanently staffed and could hold 24 people on arrival or departure.  Patrons could be dispersed onto Goswell Road. This would be licensed with restrictive conditions. They had engaged in correspondence with the residents which they hoped had been a useful process.  They would be looking for flexibility for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 188.

189.

The Long Table, Old Street Yard, (fronting 32-37 Featherstone Street) EC1 - New premises licence application pdf icon PDF 3 MB

Minutes:

The applicant’s representative had stated that a meeting had been held with residents who raised concerns with the ground floor hours.  As a result, in respect of the ground floor, hours were reduced to 10.30 pm for the supply of alcohol.

 

The resident stated that the basement area would be an incubator for aspiring chefs with an entrance on Featherstone Street. In the planning consent the ground floor was described as a café and retail area with no mention of alcohol and had therefore received no objections.  The resident was concerned about a bar opening onto Featherstone Street, with vertical drinking and no restrictions on alcohol being ancillary to food.  He considered that conditions relating to no vertical drinking and alcohol being served ancillary with food be additions to the licence.  He would also like to see a condition added regarding waiter service on the ground floor and he considered that with these changes there would be less disturbance on the street. 

 

In response to questions, the resident stated he lived near to the venue and had bad experiences of the venue previously.  This was a restaurant and should be happy to accept these conditions. 

 

The applicant’s representative stated that there was a plan of the premises at page 262 of the agenda.  There were small kitchens and users would graduate to central kitchens. There was expected to be a named chef on the main table.  The ground floor was a café bar/juice bar and a feeder bar for the downstairs operation.  There was a condition to restrict vertical drinking on the ground floor.  This area may be used for wine tasting. This would not be a late night bar and some vertical drinking was important. They would be happy to agree to table service throughout the ground floor.

 

In response to questions it was noted that the applicant would be working with the local business programme and schools.

 

In summary, the resident considered that the basement operation was praiseworthy but was concerned about vertical drinking, alcohol being served without food, the lack of table service and asked that these be additional conditions to the licence. The applicant’s representative reminded the Sub-Committee that planning and licensing were separate regimes.

 

RESOLVED

1)     That the application for a new premises licence, in respect of The Long Table, Old Street Yard (fronting 32-37 Featherstone Street) EC1 be granted to allow:-

 

a)  The sale by retail of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises from 10am until 11pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am until 10.30 on Sundays and in respect of the ground floor 10am until 10.30 on Mondays to Sundays.

b)  Opening hours from 10am until 11.30pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am until 11pm on Sundays.    

 

2)     That conditions detailed on pages 269 and 270 of the agenda shall be applied to the licence.

 

REASONS FOR DECISION

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered the application papers, the written representations by residents, the oral submission by the Applicants’ representative and the oral submission  ...  view the full minutes text for item 189.

190.

B and D Supermarket, 156 Seven Sisters Road, N7 7PL - Premises licence variation pdf icon PDF 3 MB

Minutes:

The licensing officer reported that a petition had been received in support of the application.  The applicant had stated that he would amend the hour for sale of alcohol to 8am from 6am but the authority had not received this notification in writing.

 

The licensing authority reported that they were particularly concerned with the early start time and the impact on street drinkers, these hours were outside core policy hours and the applicant had not demonstrated how he could operate in the cumulative impact area.  The applicant would need to demonstrate how he would not add to the problems in the area and how he would operate after 11pm.

 

The police reported that 33% of crimes in the area took place after 11pm. They accepted that there were premises that were already in the area but they had seen nothing in the application about how the applicant would address the issues of cumulative impact in the area.

 

The licensee reported that 100 people had signed a petition in support of his application.  The offences that took place after 11pm were not alcohol related offences.  He had CCTV and supplied it straight away when required.  He had passed underage tests.

 

In response to questions the applicant stated he had a refusal book and did not sell to underage or drunk people.  He did not think that the sale of alcohol had an impact on the problems in Seven Sisters Road.  He did not think that opening later would cause further problems.

 

The police asked if he could bring back the hours for the sale of alcohol to 11pm and the applicant stated that he would not be agreeable to doing that as it would create problems.  There were 24 hour premises nearby.

 

RESOLVED

That the application for a premises licence variation, in respect of B & D Seven Sisters Road, N4 2DA, be refused.

 

REASONS FOR DECISION

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered the application papers, the written submissions and the oral submission from the applicant, the Licensing Authority and the Metropolitan Police.

 

The application was for a variation of an existing off premises licence to 6am until 1am the following day and for the opening hours to be the same. The applicant stated that if the sale of alcohol licence was not extended to the added hours, he would not require the opening hours to be extended as this would cause him potential danger from customers who would require him to sell them alcohol.

 

The premises are within the Finsbury Park Cumulative Impact Area.

 

The Licensing Authority was concerned primarily about the earlier opening hours and stated that this was when street drinkers would purchase alcohol. The Police were concerned that the extended later hours would exacerbate an already dangerous situation in that area.

 

The Licensing Sub-Committee was of the opinion that the applicant failed both in his application and in his submissions at the hearing to adequately address the cumulative impact issue and did not demonstrate why the operation of the premises  ...  view the full minutes text for item 190.

191.

Sports Bar and Grill, Unit E, Cowcross Place, Cowcross Street, EC1M 6DH - Temporary Event Notice pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee noted that this application had been withdrawn.