Agenda and draft minutes

Councillor Spall 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 Graham and Councillor Jeapes.

Councillor Wayne substituted for Councillor Jeapes, and Councillor Bossman-Quarshie substituted for Councillor Graham.

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 per the agenda.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 7^th September 2023 and the minutes of the meeting held on the 27^th September 2023, be confirmed as a correct record and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

The Licensing Officer was asked to report any additional updates to the Sub Committee. In response, the Sub Committee were informed that supporting documentation had been forwarded to all parties, and that the only other significant update, was that the applicant had indicated that they wanted to revise the hours listed on the application. The applicant’s legal representative confirmed this to be the cessation of licensable activities at 00:00, including the sale and retail by alcohol, and the closing of the premises at 00:30, seven days a week. Late night refreshment would be until closing time (00:30) each day. The hours for New Year’s Eve would remain the same and anything needed outside of that would be applied for through a Temporary Event Notice.

In the Interested Parties’ verbal representation to the Sub Committee, it was stated that there was no objection to the use of the premises in general, but that there had been historical issues with other premises in the vicinity. The interested parties cited that they were happy that the applicant had provided concessions, but that the Licensing Policy’s framework hours had stipulated a closing time of 11pm. The Interested Parties also expressed concern with the length of the delivery window and the potential for noise disturbance to neighbouring properties, adding to existing noise disturbance from existing late-night establishments.

In their verbal representation to the Sub Committee, the applicant’s Legal Representative stated that the establishment was a passion project for the applicant, who aimed for it to be a successful cultural venue that was part of the community; it was also highlighted that there had been an existing licence that had lapsed in January and the initial request was for the original hours granted in that licence but the applicant was flexible. It was also stated that the applicant would explore all possible mitigation measures to reduce disturbance, including double glazing, and that dispersal policies would be agreed with the Noise team to ensure they were fit for purpose and if granted, the applicant would be obliged to appoint a noise consultant and noise control measures.

Responding to the interested parties’ concerns, the Legal Representative acknowledged that it was a wide delivery window that was proposed, but that delivery to and collections from the premises were not always something that could be dictated by the applicant. However, it was stressed that the applicant had recognised the potential noise disruption from glass deliveries/collections and thus had elected to sell beer almost exclusively in draught.

The Legal Representative also noted the premises was small in size and that the doors would be comprehensively managed; and that the proposed measures had been accepted by the Police, including the match day conditions in which they had been guided by the Police.

Responding to why the premises would be open to midnight, the applicant stated that this was to allow flexibility for greater hospitality, and that the kitchen would be closed by 10pm.

The Sub Committee asked the applicant why the alcohol  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

The Licensing Officer was asked to report any additional updates, which there were not. There were also verbal representations from interested parties or responsible authorities.

In their verbal representation to the Sub Committee, the applicant highlighted that they were a very small restaurant applying for the sale of alcohol between 11am and 10.30pm. The applicants stated that they operated another restaurant in the London Borough of Haringey, of whom had granted them a similar licence.

The applicants also highlighted that they had responded to objections accordingly and also managed to obtain signatures of support from neighbours in close proximity of the premises.  The applicants clarified that there would be no vertical drinking from the premises as it was an extremely small space and would be sit down service only. The applicants also clarified that despite the name ‘Brunch’ featuring in the title, the business did not want to restrict itself to just brunch hours, as it had to remain competitive. The applicant stated that they were not anticipating selling vast list of alcohol and spirits, that the environment would be ambient with no live music, and the business’s presence in the area would boost safety through footfall and CCTV on the door.

In terms of why the licence was needed up to 11pm, the applicant stated that this was to manage demand. Addressing an objection received about potential waste, the applicant stated that as an existing coffee shop at the premises, they already have waste management procedures in place, but this can be altered if required.

The Sub Committee asked the applicant what the alcohol offer would be, to which the applicant responded that it would be mostly wines or cocktails as there physically was not the space to store beer and the business was primarily focused on food. 

The Sub Committee asked the applicant how they would manage large groups of customers congregating outside the premises, to which the applicant responded that they had a private outdoor space that had not been included on the plan, which would help with mitigate against patrons impeding residents’ access to neighbouring properties.

The Sub Committee asked the applicant how they would mitigate sound outside, to which the applicant advised that they would have signs reminding patrons to not be too loud and that there would also be a booking system. The applicant stated that they had also engaged with the community and had the support of residents.

In summing up the applicants stated that they were trying to do something different to survive as a business and also adapting to the community.

RESOLVED

1)       That the application for a new premises licence, in respect of Brunch on the Green, Units 1-3, 34 Islington Green, London, N1 8EU, be granted to allow:-

a)     To allow the sale by retail of alcohol, on supplies only, Mondays to Sundays from 11:00 until 23:00

b)     To allow the premises to be open to the public, Mondays to Sundays from 07:00 until 23:00

2)       That conditions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.