Agenda item

The Sub-Committee noted the menu and acoustic report circulated separately. The licensing officer tabled an additional building control condition and extra conditions following dialogue with the noise team and residents.  These would be interleaved with the agenda papers.

It was noted that 6 residents had withdrawn their representations following the reinstatement of the lobby.  Two representations on pages 130 and 138 of the agenda had not been withdrawn. 

Counsel for the applicant reported that the application was to change the layout of the premises.  There would be a larger kitchen and one sound lobby would be removed. Other premises were operated by the applicant in London which had not had review or enforcement proceedings against them. In order to keep good relations with residents the ground floor sound lobby would remain and acoustic baffling was to be installed. A dispersal policy had been agreed with Environmental Health relating to the disturbance outside, even though this did not relate to the variation applied for.

In response to questions, it was noted that the basement would not operate separately to the ground floor premises. They had set up good relations with residents with consultation before the launch and the Sub-Committee noted that it was a condition of the current licence to hold regular meetings with residents.

RESOLVED

1)     That the application for a premises licence variation in respect of Coin Laundry, 70 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QP be granted to vary the layout of the premises in accordance with the revised layout drawings attached to the application.

2)     That the following conditions shall be applied to the licence.

a.     Conditions of the current premises licence.

b.     Conditions as outlined in appendix 3 as detailed on page 139 of the agenda with the addition of conditions as tabled at the meeting as follows:-

·        The premises may not be used under this licence until all the items referred to in Islington’s Building Control Service Principal Surveyor’s email dated 11 August 2015 have been completed to his satisfaction and confirmed in writing by Islington’s Licensing Service. 

·        The reinstatement of the ground floor main corner entrance lobby as shown on the revised drawings distributed on 31 July.

·        All doors and windows will be kept closed, except for access and egress, during times that regulated entertainment is taking place.

·        That there be no access or egress to the premises from the entrance leading to the basement, save for emergencies only.

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 2.  The premises fall under the Bunhill and Clerkenwell cumulative impact area.  Licensing policy 2 creates a rebuttable presumption that applications for variations to 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 applicant had agreed an additional condition with health and safety. The Sub-Committee also noted that additional conditions had been agreed with noise and that the responsible authorities had therefore withdrawn their representations.

The Sub-Committee noted that the applicant had been in dialogue with residents and that the acoustic lobby had been reinstated to promote good relations with the premises neighbours.  Six residents had withdrawn their representations. The Sub-Committee also noted that acoustic baffling was to be provided within the premises so that the first floor flat would not experience noise nuisance.  The Sub-Committee noted that the premises would be food led and that the basement would not be operated separately.

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that the proposed variation would not add to the cumulative impact and that the licensing objectives would be promoted.