Agenda item

The licensing officer reported that conditions had been tabled which had been amended to deal with resident concerns.  These would be interleaved with the agenda papers.  The operating schedule had been sent to residents and one resident had stated that they were generally agreeable to the application but concerns regarding customers drinking outside blocking the pavement and littering remained.  The other resident had not withdrawn their objection. 

The applicant’s representative stated that the applicant had worked for twenty years in the industry.  The application had been discussed with the police and conditions had been agreed.  The application had been made within core hours.  Smokers outside were limited to six and he considered that, with the conditions, the application would uphold the licensing objectives.

In response to questions, the applicant stated that the premises had previously been open until 10 in the evening but now closed at 6.30pm as they were only selling coffee and there was no demand for coffee in the evening.

In summary, the applicant stated that he wanted a good relationship with neighbours.  He owned the premises and would not be leaving in the near future.  He had spoken to neighbours about the application and one of the objectors was happy with the business plan.  He had run bars for 20 years and knew how to control customers and considered there would be no issues.

RESOLVED

1)     That the application for a new premises licence, in respect of 60 Holloway Road, N7 8JL be granted to allow:-

a)    To allow the sale of alcohol, on and off sales, from 10am until 11pm Monday to Sunday.

b)    Opening hours to be:- 8am to 11.30pm Monday to Sunday.

2)     That conditions tabled at the meeting be applied to the licence.

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 Policies 2 & 3.  The premises fall within the Finsbury Park/Holloway Road cumulative impact area.  Licensing policy 3 creates a rebuttable presumption that applications for the grant or variation of premises licences which are likely to add to the existing cumulative impact will normally be refused following the receipt of representations, unless the applicant can demonstrate in the operation schedule that there will be no negative cumulative impact on one or more of the licensing objectives.

Two local resident objections had been received. They had raised concerns about customers drinking outside and blocking the pavement and litter outside the premises.

Representations had been made by the Noise Team and the Police and their proposed conditions had been agreed by the applicant.  The noise team and the police had therefore withdrawn their representations.

The Sub-Committee noted that the hours sought were within the hours specified in licensing policy 6 and that the manager of the premises had twenty years of industry experience and the application complied with licensing policy 8 in relation to high standards of management.

The Sub-Committee was of the view that the amended conditions, particularly in relation to vertical drinking and control of the outside area, would deal with the concerns raised by residents.  The Sub-Committee was satisfied that, with the amended conditions proposed by the applicant and the conditions agreed with the responsible authorities, the premises licence would not add to the existing cumulative impact and the licensing objectives would not be undermined.

The Sub-Committee concluded that it was proportionate to grant the premises licence.