Agenda and minutes

To agree the procedure rules for remote meetings.

RESOLVED –

THAT the guidance be agreed.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Izzy Lenga.

Councillor Jonathan Simpson was in attendance as substitute.

Councillor Simpson declared that he had previously sat on a panel that had considered an application in relation to Kiss the Sky, but this did not preclude him from considering the item at this hearing.

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair to announce the following: “In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for at least six months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available on upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to being filmed and to the use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting and/or training purposes. If you are addressing the Committee your contribution will be recorded and broadcast.”

Webcasting

The Chair announced that the meeting was being broadcast live to the internet and would be capable of repeated viewing and copies of the recording could be made available to those that requested them. Those participating in the meeting were deemed to be consenting to being filmed.

Agenda Item 7 – Application Resolved

The Chair also announced that Agenda Item 7 had been withdrawn, as the application in respect of Red Rooms has been resolved so would not be considered by Licensing Panel A.

Supplementary Agenda

The Chair finally announced that since the publication of the main agenda, there had been a supplementary agenda published.

There was no such notification.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st March 2023.

Consideration was given to the Minutes of the meeting that took place on 31^st March 2023.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes be approved and signed as a correct record.

Report of the Executive Director Supporting Communities

This is an application for a shadow premises licence under Section 16 of the Licensing Act 2003.

The application in respect of this item had been resolved and therefore the item was not heard.

Report of the Executive Director Supporting Communities

This is an application to vary a premises licence under Section 34 of the Licensing Act 2003.

Consideration was given to a report of the Executive Director Supporting Communities detailing an application for a variation to a premises licence under section 34 of the Licensing Act 2003.

The Licensing Officer took the Panel through the report and advised that the premises was located in the Camden Town Cumulative Impact Policy Area (CIA), so there was a rebuttable presumption to refuse the application.

Three relevant representations had been received, including representations from the Police and Licensing Responsible Authorities and the Tenants and Residents Association Camden Town (TRACT).

The applicant’s representative confirmed that there were no amendments to the application.

The Licensing Enforcement Officer, representing the Licensing Responsible Authority, outlined their objections to the application, as in their written submission.

The Licensing Enforcement Officer confirmed that it would be unlikely they would have objected had the premises not been in a CIA and that no complaints had been received in relation to the premises.

PC Rachel Aldis, representing the Police Responsible Authority, outlined their objections to the application, as in their written submission.

Responding to a question, PC Aldis reported that there had been no crimes reported in relation to the premises. However, there was an issue with crime in the general area, especially between 00:00hrs and 02:00hrs.

Kate Gemmel representing TRACT, did not attend the hearing, so their written submission was taken as read.

The applicant’s legal representative, Thomas O’Maoileoin summarised the application, as set out in the report and their written submission set out in the supplementary agenda.

The applicant’s legal representative reported to the panel that the applicant would be agreeable to a condition that stated that they would turn away customers who were intoxicated and another condition that specified that deliveries were to be made by bicycles, electric scooters or e-bikes only.

Responding to questions, the applicant and the applicant’s legal representative provided the following information:

• The premises had operated under Temporary Events Notices for late night refreshment for the duration of December and the applicant had not observed any issues.  
• However, in order to manage potential issues, it would be ensured that there would be a sufficient number of staff members working the late nights, including a door supervisor who was Security Industry Authority (SIA) registered. 
• The applicant had observed that much of the criminal activity in the area, such a pick pocketing and mobile phone theft, happened during the peak hours of the day rather than late at night. 
• It was in the businesses interest to have the extended hours due to high rent and business rates, therefore extending hours in which the premises was able to operate would make the business more viable.
• The venue served healthy food and had vegetarian and vegan options and attracted those customers who wanted a healthier option. The premises was not likely to have been heavy drinkers, due to the nature of the food offer.
• Lots of the customers that came late at night were on their way home from work and the applicant had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Report of the Executive Director Supporting Communities

This is an application for a new premises licence under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003.

Consideration was given to a report of the Executive Director Supporting Communities detailing an application for a new premises licence under section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003.

The Licensing Officer took the Panel through the report and advised that the premises was located in the Camden Town Cumulative Impact Policy Area (CIA), so there was a rebuttable presumption to refuse the application.

Five relevant representations had been received, including representations from the Police and Licensing Responsible Authorities.

The applicant’s representative, Chris Grunert, confirmed that the application had been amended to no longer include off-sales.

The Licensing Enforcement Officer, representing the Licensing Responsible Authority, outlined their objections to the application, as in their written submission.

The Environmental Health Officer, representing the Environmental Health Responsible Authority, outlined their objections to the application, as  in their objection and made reference to their written submission, as set out in the supplementary agenda.

Responding to questions the Environmental Health Officer provided the following information:

• The resident that had previously complained had not submitted any further complaints and had accepted that, due to the nature of living on Camden High Street, some noise was to be expected.
• The applicant was not seeking live band entertainment, but rather a DJ or acoustic singer so had, therefore, suggested a condition that only acoustic instruments be used in live performances. 
• Since the complaint, improvements had been made and a the door had been managed by a Security Industry Authority registered door supervisor had been employed to assist with dispersal and managing the outside area.  
• It was recommended that a self-close device be fixed to the door to keep in noise.
• A condition for air conditioning had been proposed to regulate the temperature in the warmer months, given that windows and doors must be kept closed to prevent noise leakage.
• Sound proofing had been installed throughout the premises, including the ceiling.

PC Christopher Malone, representing the Police Responsible Authority, outlined their objections to the application, as in their written submission.

Responding to a question, PC Malone advised that if the application was scaled back and the premises was food led instead, it would be more acceptable as it would take out the alcohol led aspect, which has the potential to lead to increased crime, antisocial behaviour and violence.

Kate Gemmel representing Tenants and Residents Association Camden Town (TRACT), did not attend the hearing, so their written submission was taken as read.

The applicant’s legal representative, Chris Grunert, summarised the application and outlined the information as set out in the applicant’s written submission contained within the agenda pack.

Responding to questions, the applicant’s representative and the applicant, Kashka Ray, provided the following key information:

• It was envisaged that once the flat above the premises was vacated by the current tenant, which was expected to be in August 2023, it would not be rented out again. The applicant had proposed taking over the tenancy so that noise nuisance was not an issue in the future.
• Remedial steps had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

There was no urgent business.