Skip to content

Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Jackie Tunstall  020 7527 3068

Items
No. Item

13.

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 and those present were informed that the procedure was detailed in the papers.

14.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

None.

15.

Declarations of substitute members

Minutes:

None.

16.

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:

None.

17.

Order of Business

Minutes:

The order of business was as set out in the agenda.

18.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 166 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 12 August 2014 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

19.

Leon, Unit 2, Zinc House, 19-25 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6DR - New Licence Application pdf icon PDF 7 MB

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee noted the supporting documents supplied by the applicant which would be interleaved with the agenda papers.

 

The noise officer reported that the noise conditions on page 29 of the agenda had been agreed with an additional condition that tables and chairs would not be placed outside the premises until 08:00 am.

 

The applicant reported that licensing hours would cease at 10:30 pm Monday to Saturday and at 10:00 pm on Sunday.  It was reported that the concept of the business was to sell healthy food with alcohol as a small part of the business.  There were to be 40 covers inside the premises with 20 covers outside.  The outside space was not to be used after 9pm.  It was noted that this was a cumulative impact area but the licence was for earlier hours than for three nearby premises.  It was reported that the application fell within the exceptions detailed in the licensing policy and it was unlikely to add to the cumulative impact with the concept and hours.

 

In response to questions, it was noted that the applicant would accept a Challenge 25 condition, a member of management would monitor the outside area and staff could not start serving alcohol unless trained at selling.  The Sub-Committee noted that there would be greater safeguards with the grant of the licence as there would be conditions that would need to be complied with. The applicant offered no off sales after 9pm.

 

In summary the applicant reported that there had been no representation from the police and that conditions had been agreed with the noise team.  Alcohol sales would be minimal.  Hours applied for were shorter than those detailed in licensing policy 8.  The premises was unlikely to add to the cumulative impact.

 

RESOLVED

a) That the new premises licence in respect of Leon, Unit 2, Zinc House, 19-25 Cowcross Street, EC1 be granted to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises from 10:00 to 22:30 on Monday to Saturday and from 12:00 to 22:00 on Sunday and consumption off the premises from 10:00 to 21:00 on all days of the week.  All in respect of the ground floor only.

 

b) Conditions as outlined in appendix 3 as detailed on page 29 of the agenda shall be applied to the licence, subject to the following amendments and additions.

·                     Tables and chairs will not be placed outside until 08:00 am

·                     The premises shall operate a Challenge 25 scheme.

·                     Condition 17 to read. Doors and windows to the premises will be kept closed after 21:00 hours except for ingress and egress.

 

REASONS FOR DECISION

The Sub-Committee listened to all the evidence and submissions and read all the material. The Sub-Committee reached the decision having given consideration to the Licensing Act 2003, as amended, and its regulations, the national guidance and the Council’s Licensing Policy.

 

The Sub-Committee took into consideration Licensing Policy 002.  The premises fall under the Bunhill and Clerkenwell cumulative impact area.  Licensing policy 002 creates a rebuttable presumption that applications  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

Lidl, 67-83 Seven Sisters Road, N7 6BU - New Licence Application pdf icon PDF 7 MB

Minutes:

The licensing officer reported that the resident objector on page 58 of the papers had been withdrawn. The Sub-Committee noted that a revised CCTV condition was to replace proposed conditions 5, 7 8 and 9, conditions 18-20 had been amended to state four hours (not two) and noise conditions had been agreed. There was a remaining representation from the MAGPI team referring to street drinking in the area.  It was noted that there was a proposed condition regarding super strength alcohol.

 

The police reported that the applicant had been willing to engage and had put forward more conditions than expected.  These premises were a good distance away from Finsbury Park station and with conditions agreed regarding match days the police had withdrawn their concerns.

 

The applicant’s representative spoke in support of the application.  Folders outlining training policies and responsibility pledges were made available to the Sub-Committee. It was recognised that greater conditions were required in a cumulative impact area.  The training that would be given to staff was outlined.  It was noted that alcohol was kept at the furthest point from the door and was monitored by CCTV to reduce theft.  Risk assessments were made to ascertain the need for SIA door supervisors. It was reported that the store was proactive and that they participated in a number of community based groups.  Street drinkers were no longer an issue in the area.  A condition was proposed regarding the time of deliveries.

 

In response to questions it was noted that the premises would open at 7am.  There would be a bakery and until 11am the sales were predominantly fresh food with nominal alcohol sales. There had been an issue with a neighbouring pub near a local store at Finsbury Park but extra security guards were employed when necessary.  Alcohol was removed from the shop floor at the neighbouring store for all events held at Finsbury Park.  Alcohol sold would not be of so much interest to street drinkers.  The store would not be selling alcohol in bulk.  The store manager was likely to be someone who already had experience in another Lidl store.  It was agreed by the applicant that large scale musical events could be included in proposed condition 17.   There would be one delivery a day and the applicant was currently in consultation with the highway department regarding the area for delivery. The applicant stated that alcohol was applied for at 7am as there was a practical difficulty in selling at a later time.  The store did not sell a great deal of alcohol early in the morning so they did not consider there would be greater harm.  Incidents in the morning related to shop lifting rather than the sale of alcohol and people would not be served if drunk.

 

In summary the applicant considered that the committee could depart from the cumulative impact policy on this occasion and this store would help improve the area.

 

RESOLVED

That the new premises licence in respect of Lidl, 67-83 Seven  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Addis Ababa, 192 Seven Sisters Road, N4 3NX - Transfer and variation of designated premises supervisor pdf icon PDF 39 KB

Minutes:

The applicant requested an adjournment as his legal representative could not be present.  The police asked that the matter proceed as the transfer was deemed granted until a decision by the Sub-Committee had been made.  The Sub-Committee agreed to proceed with the hearing.

 

The police outlined their objections to the application as detailed in the agenda and summarised events that had occurred on the 16 August 2014.  The noise officer was called as a witness for the police.  She reported that she had written to the licensee regarding an undischarged noise condition requiring an acoustic survey.  Following a lack of response she sent a second letter and then visited with the licensing officer.  At the visit, noise outside the premises by customers was witnessed and loud music was witnessed inside. The noise officer left a card and was contacted once but had heard nothing further.  The police reported that the applicant had not met the high standards of management required. 

 

The Sub-Committee noted that the applicant had taken over in April.  No prior knowledge of the applicant was known. The noise team was still waiting to be contacted by the applicant.

 

The applicant reported that he had obtained the lease in April and had opened the premises on the 12 July.  He believed if he changed his name on the council tax and business rate document, the licence would also change. He had left a person he trusted in charge on the night in question.  His job had now been terminated.  The CCTV was not working.

 

In response to questions he reported that he managed other venues.  The designated premises supervisor was not present at the meeting as he was working.  The person left in charge on the 16 August was not the temporary manager, but the cleaner. The applicant reported that the cleaner had re-opened the business after he had left.  The police informed the Sub-Committee that they were unable to confirm this explanation of events as the CCTV was not working.  When asked by the Sub-Committee, he reported that he could run a safe, crime free venue. He stated the music was not very loud and he had tried to do everything requested. When asked about his knowledge of the licensing objectives he stated they were ‘keeping me alive’.

 

The police reported that the applicant lacked knowledge about the licensing laws and the objectives.  This meeting had not changed his opinion.  The applicant was not suitable and he had not demonstrated anything to allay his fears.

 

The applicant stated he would follow the regulations.  If granted he would be careful and he had enough experience not to spoil his business. If it happened again he would hand the keys over himself.

 

RESOLVED

That the application for a premises licence transfer and variation of the designated premises supervisor in respect of Addis Ababa, 192 Seven Sisters Rd, N4 3NX be refused.

 

REASONS FOR DECISION

The Sub-Committee heard an application from the applicant for an adjournment of the meeting on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

Urgent Non-Exempt/Confidential Item

Minutes:

The following item was ruled urgent by the Chair as it was necessary to hear the application within 7 working days following the last day for objections.

23.

The Gunners, 204 Blackstock Road, N5 - Temporary Notice Application pdf icon PDF 6 MB

Minutes:

The noise officer reported that following a letter sent in June regarding noise complaints she had initially received a positive response from the applicant but in August had received a further complaint and she had not been contacted further since that time.  She considered that residents would be disturbed if a temporary notice was granted until 04:00 am.

 

The applicant was not present at the meeting.

 

RESOLVED

That the temporary event notice on the 8/9 November be prohibited and a counter notice be served on the applicant.

 

REASONS FOR DECISION

The Sub-Committee listened to all the evidence and submissions and read all the material. The Sub-Committee reached the decision having given consideration to the Licensing Act 2003, as amended, and its regulations, the national guidance and the Council’s Licensing Policy.

 

The Sub-Committee noted the submission from the noise team that there had been intermittent noise complaints about the premises and a Minded To letter was sent. The noise team confirmed that a very positive response was initially received and that the designated premises supervisor had indicated that he was going to allow the noise levels to be set by acoustic consultant. However, two months later a further complaint was received regarding noise from the premises and there had been no further response from the designated premises supervisor.

 

The Sub-Committee noted that during an incident of noise from the premises in 2013 the designated premises supervisor was found intoxicated at the premises.  No-one from the premises was present at the hearing.

 

The Sub-Committee decided that the licensing objectives would not be promoted if the TEN was granted.  The Sub-Committee shared the noise teams concerns that the sound levels in the premises had not been properly set and that an event going on until 04:00 am would cause noise nuisance to neighbouring properties.

 

The Sub-Committee considered licensing policy 28. The Sub-Committee concluded that the additional hours would be an additional stress to the area and it was satisfied that the granting of the TENs would undermine the licensing objective related to the prevention of public nuisance.    

24.

Addis Ababa, 192 Seven Sisters Road, N4 3NX - Exempt Appendices

Minutes:

RESOLVED

That the exempt information in the appendix to agenda item B3 be noted.