Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Matt Nathan.

Councillor Phil Graham substituted for Councillor Matt Nathan.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

The order of business would be as the agenda.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2022 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

The licensing officer introduced all parties to the application. She stated that the applicant had agreed conditions with the police and the noise team and those representations had therefore been withdrawn. Updated conditions had been circulated to the Sub-Committee. The Licensing Authority had maintained their objection.

The Licensing Authority stated that she was in agreement with the football conditions proposed. She considered that the issues were in relation to the large garden area and the supervision of it other than on match days. The site had three entrances and an external bar which was proposed to be open until 11.30pm. There was the possibility of anti-social behaviour where customers could not get to the toilets inside. This had happened in the past. There had been no complaints received in the last couple of years. Consideration should be given on how customers would be controlled, the extra security required in managing the exits and numbers outside. It was an area that could be used all year round and more care was required to ensure it was well supervised.

In response to questions, the Licensing Authority considered that there would be an increase of about 20% in space at the side and the rear of the premises and it would look more attractive with decking and umbrellas to cover the site. The Licensing Authority was concerned about the lack of toilet provision. This had caused issues in the past but was not something that the Licensing Authority could realistically control. There was a general policy of 1 SIA supervisor per hundred people but the number of exits/entrances available would need to be a consideration. With a football crowd there would need to be a larger number. The premises had reported that they had been moving customers to the front patio area of the garden by 10.30 pm to reduce noise disturbance to residents. It was quite unusual for a garden to be open until 11.30pm.  Others in the area were closed by 10pm or 10.30pm. It was noted that the external area was closed by 10.30pm apart from the area immediately in front of the premises.  It was believed that railings were to be installed around the garden.

One resident stated that they’d had problems with noise and anti-social behaviour over many years. Customers used the far gate to urinate, smoke and drink. Many complaints had been made but she had only been invited to one resident meeting. Another resident stated that there had been no communication with residents. Resident meetings were not advertised outside the pub. It was considered that these meetings be minuted and an action plan drawn up. The premises made a large amount of revenue with large crowds but staff were inadequately trained to deal with them. She considered that the beer garden should not be open so late. The fencing was welcome but she had doubts that this would work. She considered that the need for the premises to make money had led them to forget residents  ...  view the full minutes text for item 153.

The licensing officer introduced the residents and the applicant. It was noted that amended conditions had been circulated. The noise team had agreed one amended condition and had withdrawn their representation.

The Licensing Authority stated that the applicant had a previous licence which had been surrendered as they had found it difficult to comply with the conditions around the outside area. They had since been found selling alcohol without a licence. The premises mainly has runs of plays a couple of times a year. The main noise nuisance was from people outside in the courtyard and they asked that this area be managed quickly, quietly and no drinks be allowed outside.

In response to questions, it was noted that the noise officer had replaced two conditions in the original report with three conditions numbered 48-50 on the tabled appendix. A noise condition had been proposed, agreed by the applicant, that no more than 10 patrons smoke outside. The Licensing Authority proposed that this number be five patrons. The Licensing Authority stated that she had received no communication from the applicant.

One resident stated that she had concerns regarding the noise management of the outside space. After leaving the premises, patrons gathered and were noisy. The exit was in the courtyard and there had not been a show where staff/patrons had not gathered outside speaking loudly and swearing. The end time of 10pm was far too late. Another resident stated that their bedroom window was only five metres away from a shared courtyard. Half of the space belonged to the pub next door. The area acted as an acoustic echo chamber and even whispering was amplified. The Englefield pub garden closed at 9pm for this reason. The pub garden was not problematic but the Big House premises caused issues. Soundproofing in the premises was rendered useless as doors were kept open.  It was considered that the management had disregarded residents. Alcohol was not allowed to be sold but had been without a licence.  He did not think that conditions would not be adhered to.

The applicant stated that this was a theatre company and small charity that worked with young people. The sale of alcohol was ancillary to their main work.  They had surrendered their licence due to covid and the concern about patrons mixing indoors. Regarding the noise management she had been in discussion with the noise team and had agreed to hold audience members inside the building after 9pm with no drinks allowed outside. Theatre shows could not always be guaranteed a finish time but would finish by 10pm and audiences and staff would quickly leave. They had agreed to stop the sale of alcohol to encourage orderly egress. Holding people inside would work to manage the noise.  An additional sound corridor. They had opened windows and doors during covid to allow for ventilation. Having a 9pm close of the courtyard except for smoking was in line with the pub. They encouraged people to move away and were actively  ...  view the full minutes text for item 154.

The Sub-Committee noted that the applicant had accepted the conditions from all Responsible Authorities so all representations had been withdrawn.

The Chair of the Sub-Committee thanked Councillors Gary Poole and Angela Picknell for their services to the Sub-Committee as this was their last meeting for Islington Council. In turn, Councillor Gary Poole thanked the Chair for being an excellent Chair of the Licensing Committee and also thanked all officers for all of their work in relation to Licensing.