Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chairman for the meeting.

Councillor B. Fitzsimon, as Vice Chairman took the Chair for this meeting.

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) considering an application for a grant of a premises licence for 4-6 Howardsgate, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6BQ.

Introduction and Procedure

The purpose of the meeting was to consider an application for the granting of a premises licence for 4-6 Howardsgate, Welwyn Garden City. The premises is a commercial unit located within the Handside Ward and central within Welwyn Garden City Town Centre. The commercial unit has been used as a restaurant by restaurant chains including Zizzi’s and ASK Italian, which have operated under premises licenses for activities similar to that of the proposed premises licence application from Chokdee Ltd.

Documentary Evidence

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

Report of the Licensing Officer

The Licensing Officer presented her report on an application which had been received from the Applicant under the Licensing Act 2003 for a licence for the sale of alcohol Monday - Sunday 11:00-00:00 on and off the premises, Late night refreshment Monday - Sunday 23:00-00:00 indoors only with premises opening hours to the public Monday - Sunday 11:00-00:30. With extended Hours from the start time on New Year's Eve to the finish time on New Year's Day.

The Licence Hearing was a result of the Licensing Authority having received two formal written relevant representations against the application within the 28 day consultation period. The representations against the application had been submitted under the Licensing Act 2003 on the statutory grounds of Prevention of Public Nuisance, one from a member of the public who is a neighbour of the premises and one from a Local Ward Councillor for Handside Ward.

The representations related to preventing nuisance by noise particularly to the neighbouring flats located at 8 Howardsgate. Both representations presented concerns of the potential noise created outside of the premises in the outdoor seating area which is located to the front of the premises.

One representor who is a neighbour of the premises had expressed concerns over the operating and sale of alcohol hours that have been proposed by the applicant. The representor had made reference to the premises licence hours which were operated by the previous occupier of the commercial unit Zizzi’s. The representor requested the Licensing Committee to restrict the hours of operation and the sale of alcohol to the times previously operated by Zizzi’s.

The Licensing Officer had also provided in the report the licensable activities and hours which were permitted under the premises licence for Zizzi’s for the Committee to consider.

Applicant/License Holder’s Representative

The Licence Holder, D. Salaj (Chokdee Ltd) was represented by C. Bayliss (Agent). C. Bayliss stated that the premises was previously used as a restaurant by Zizzi’s and ASK Italian and they have operated under a similar premises license to the proposed premises license. There are some differences to the proposed operating times to that of Zizzi’s such as opening hours are the same every week but the proposed opening time is 11am while Zizzi’s opened at 10am.

The restaurant chain, Giggling Squid,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.