Agenda item

The licensing officer reported that this was a new licence application following substantial refurbishment.  The hours and activities applied for were the same as the previous licence except that the sale of alcohol was to start one hour later.  The police and noise conditions had been agreed by the applicant.

The applicant reported that the community centre offered a range of services for local residents including a café, a lunch club and had space for weddings and other events. They required a licence for the sale of alcohol for these events.  They had strict rules and conditions, had good relations with neighbours and had received very few complaints. 

In response to questions it was noted that rooms for events were leased to local residents within the Cripplegate geographical area.  Staff drinking would not be tolerated and such issues would not have occurred in the last two years.  Sub-letting would not be something that the centre would wish to do.  Food was available with alcohol.  This was to be a community centre and not a drinking club.  The café terrace was cleared by 9pm.

RESOLVED

a) That the application for a new premises licence in respect of St Luke’s Community Centre, 90 Central Street, EC1V 8AJ to allow:-

i)       The sale of alcohol, Monday to Sunday from 11:00 to 23:00.

ii)      The performance of plays, Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 23:00 and on Sundays from 12:00 to 22:30.

iii)    The showing of films, Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 23:00 and on Sundays from 12:00 to 22:30.

iv)    Indoor sports, Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 23:00 and on Sundays from 09:00 to 22:30.

v)     Live music, Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 23:00 and on Sundays from 12:00 to 22:30.

vi)    Recorded music from Monday to Saturday from 07:00 to 23:00 and on Sundays from 09:00 to 22:30.

vii)   Performance of dancing, Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 23:00 and on Sundays from 12:00 to 22:30.

Opening hours Monday to Saturday from 07:00 to 23:30 and Sunday 07:00 to 23:00.

b) Conditions as outlined in appendix 4 as detailed on pages 54 and 55 of the agenda with the following amendmentshall be applied to the licence.

Condition 23 to read.  The premises garden on the ground floor will be closed and be cleared of patrons by 20:00 hours. The café terrace on the first floor (facing the road) will be closed and cleared of smokers by 21:00 hours.  The garden on the ground floor can be used as a smoking area for patrons up to 23:00 hours. (22:30 on a Sunday) and monitored by the Centre’s staff for noise nuisance caused by patrons.  Patrons should be asked to leave these areas if they are persistently noisy.

REASONS FOR DECISION

The Sub-Committee listened to all the evidence and submissions and read all the material including the representations made by the residents. 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 2.  The premises fall under the Bunhill and Clerkenwell cumulative impact area.  Licensing policy 2 creates a rebuttable presumption that applications for new premises licences that are likely to add to the existing cumulative impact will normally be refused, unless an applicant can demonstrate why the operation of the premises involved will not add to the cumulative impact or otherwise impact adversely on the promotion of the licensing objectives.

The Sub-Committee noted that the premises currently held a licence but had undergone a refurbishment so a new licence was sought with similar hours and activities.  The sale of alcohol for the new licence commenced one hour later than the previous licence.

The Sub-Committee heard evidence from the applicant that the community centre offered a range of services for the community including a café and lunch club and a licence for alcohol was required for this reason and for weddings and other events at the premises.  The centre had strict rules and conditions for hirers.

In relation to the representations made by the residents, the applicant said that he had been shocked to read them as there had been no recent complaints. The catering manager confirmed that there had been no such problems while she had been managing the facilities and believed that these referred to historic incidents.

The Sub-Committee noted that the café terrace was cleared by 9pm. However, the Sub-Committee was concerned about possible nuisance from the use of the café terrace by smokers until closing time and therefore amended condition 23 to clear the terrace of smokers by 9pm.

The Sub-Committee were satisfied that, with the additional conditions agreed with the police and the noise team and the amended condition about the use of the café terrace, the application was unlikely to add to the existing cumulative impact in the area and that was proportionate and in the public interest to grant the licence.