Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the meeting.

Councillor J. Cragg was appointed Chairman of the Sub-Committee.

To note declarations of Members’ disclosable pecuniary interests, non-disclosable pecuniary interests and non-pecuniary interests in respect of items on the Agenda.

None.

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) to consider an application for a premises licence.

Introduction and Procedures

The purpose of the meeting was to consider an application for the grant of a premise licence by Mr O under the Licensing Act 2003.

The application applied for was for a licence to run from grant until 11 November 2026.

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting and introduced the Members of the Sub-Committee, the Police and Environment Health Officer and the Officers serving the Sub-Committee, explained the hearings procedure which had been adopted by the Council, copies of which had previously been circulated.

The licence holder and his representative confirmed their identity to the Sub-Committee.

Documentary Evidence

A copy of the Licensing Officer’s report, the premises licence, application for review of the license by the Police and a site location map had previously been circulated.

Report of the Licensing Officer

The Licensing Officer presented her report which contained the application for the grant of a licence for Point One African Restaurant.  The applicant received from the Applicant under the licensing Act 2003 for a licence to sell alcohol, have late night refreshment and recorded music.  The hours applied for were 13.00 – 23.30 Sunday-Wednesday and 13.00 – 03.00 Thursday to Saturday. It was noted that it is a two unit restaurant situated in the town centre previously a coffee shop and then Incognito African restaurant prior to this application.

Applicant

The Applicant accepted that there had been issues with the former owner.  The applicant wished to sell alcohol and have music on the premises until 3am. He was willing to work with the Police and adopt proposals that have been suggested by the Environmental Health.  He had spoken to the former owner to see what the issues were but unfortunately the previous owner did not co-operate with the Police in relation to crimes that had taken place off the premises. 

The applicant would have two security officers on the premises and he confirmed that between the hours 12 midnight – 1am; those customers that leave at 1am would not be allowed to return.  There would be CCTV outside the premises.  It was highlighted that the previous problems related to the business manager not the business model.

There were two representations from responsible authorities:

One from the Police who felt that the application undermined the licensing objectives of Preventing Crime and Disorder and Public Safety.  They are not satisfied that the operating schedule demonstrates control measures that would support the licensing objectives.  The proposed opening times were not appropriate for the use of a premises as a restaurant or the support of the licensing objectives.  Their full concern would be elaborated at the hearing.  Representation was attached to the report at Appendix D.

The second representation was from the Environmental Health due to concerns relating to public nuisance.  This included the unsociable opening hours until 03.00, previous problems of noise disturbance under the previous owner.  The full representation was attached to the report at Appendix E.

Representations by Police

The Police representatives presented the case  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.