Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair of the Panel for the 2023/24 municipal year.

Proposed by Councillor Patricia Callaghan and seconded by Councillor Sharon Hardwick, Councillor Shah Miah was elected Chair of Licensing Panel A for the 2023-24 municipal year.

To agree the procedure rules for remote meetings.

RESOLVED –

THAT the guidance be agreed.

There were no apologies.

There were no declarations.

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.”

Broadcast of the Meeting

The Chair made the following announcement: “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 six months after the meeting.

After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available upon request. If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to having your contributions recorded and broadcast, including video when switched on, and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.”

Supplementary Agenda

A supplementary agenda was published which included a late paper submitted by an objecting interested party who made a representation on the Sainsbury’s application.

There was no urgent business.

To note the terms of reference of Licensing Panels.

RESOLVED –

THAT the terms of reference be noted.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 20 April 2023.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 20 April 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.

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 summarised the report. It was stated that the Police had withdrawn their representation after the application was amended to include their agreed conditions, therefore the only representations were from interested parties.

Ilona Hay, interested party objecting on behalf of Dartmouth Park Neighbourhood Forum, summarised their representation included within the main agenda (pages 100-101). In their summary, concerns were raised over the Sainsbury’s being situated on a key road for busses and emergency vehicles and the risk of congestion would increase leading to traffic safety risks from deliveries; the residents valued local businesses in the area and a Sainsbury’s local would not fit the neighbourhoods character; disorderly behaviour and gatherings would result from alcohol being sold during the applied for hours and there would be an increased risk of noise disturbance; children would be at risk from the negative effects of the shop as there were a number of local schools; the proximity of the premises to Hampstead Heath would attract people to the area to specifically buy alcohol.

Ilona Hay called two witnesses to address the Panel: Peter Wickenden, Dartmouth Park Neighbourhood Forum, and Nathaniel Copsey, local resident. Peter Wickenden addressed the Panel and elaborated on the issued raised by Ilona Hay’s representation in relation to the detriment of public safety due to deliveries. During a delivery, trolleys, bins and litter may obstruct the pavements. Nathaniel Copsey addressed the Panel and elaborated on the issued raised in Ilona Hay’s representation in relation to the affect on children due to the increased traffic in the area when people would visit the Sainsbury’s, making the road less safe and more polluted. Additionally, the road was a key route to the local hospital.

Jonathan Lombardo, interested party objecting resident, summarised their representation included within the main agenda (page 103). In their summary, concerns were raised over the premises being closely situation to a half-way house and that the area was well served for late night alcohol sales. The introduction of an additional shop selling alcohol in the area would; increase the risk of antisocial behaviour, whilst considering the proximity to Gospel Oak underground station; antisocial groups may be attracted to the premises and disturb residents; and increased congestion to the bus routes.

Nancy Wolstenholme, interested party objecting resident, summarised their representation included within the main agenda (pages 105-107). In their summary, concerns were raised over the effect of sale alcohol hours resulting in behaviour that did not promote the licensing objectives. Additionally, they stated that many local residents who were concerned about the application were not aware of the application within the deadline to submit a representation.

Jessica Jacobs, interested party speaking on behalf of the Gordon House Road Residents Association, summarised their representation included within the main agenda (page 102). In their summary, concerns were raised over the impact the premises  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

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 summarised the report. In addition to the report, it was clarified that the post code for the premises should be corrected to NW1 8AJ. The premises previously operated as a Korean restaurant and the Applicant was willing to surrender the current licensing if a new licence was granted.

PC Kevin Nicholls, Police responsible authority, summarised their representation included within the main agenda (pages 162-165). In their summary, it was noted on the present restaurant licence customers were required to have a substantial meal ancillary to drinking alcohol and were prohibited from vertical drinking. The premises was located in a Cumulative Impact Area and Camden Town was already particularly saturated with bars and experienced higher than average crime levels compared to other parts of the borough. The premises was applying to become a sports bar instead of a restaurant, which was part of the reason the Applicant were unable to accept the Police restaurant conditions. The Police understood the interactive nature of the sports bar, however, could not support another alcohol-led venue in the CIA which would contribute to the cumulative impact of antisocial behaviour and crime. The Applicant had accepted all of the Police conditions apart from attaching restaurant conditions to the part of the venue away from the bar hatched areas. The Police could offer to the Applicant that 30% of patrons (30 people) could be allowed to vertical drink, and 70% of patrons (70 people) were required to be seated and abide with conditions that were more in keeping of a restaurant.

Esther Jones, Licensing Authority responsible authority, summarised their representation on included within the main agenda (pages 166-169). It was stated that the Licensing Authority representation was lodged primarily as the premises was within the CIA.

Kate Gimmel spoke on behalf of three interested parties: firstly the Tenants and Residents Associations Camden Town (Kate Gimmel’s representation on pages 172-173 of the main agenda), secondly the Castlehaven Community Association (Brenda Gardner’s representation on pages 170-171 of the main agenda), and lastly an objecting resident (Patricia Thomas’ representation on pages 174-175 of the main agenda). In their summary, concerns were raised over there not being sufficient evidence explaining why the application should be an exception to Camden’s licensing policy regarding CIAs; another drink-led venue in Camden Town would not promote the licensing objectives; and the restaurant conditions attached to the premises current licence were not included in the application making the venue alcohol-led.

Luke Elford, legal representative of the Applicant, accompanied by Jonathan Callister, Applicant, summarised the application. The following points were made:

-         The application was for a competitive socialising sports venue.

-         The hours and licensable activities applied for were the same as the venue’s current licence and operated to framework hours.

-         The venue had previously operated as Korean Cowgirl, an award winning Asian themed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Report of the Executive Director Supporting Communities.

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

Agreed by Members due to there not being enough time within the prescribed time limits to consider the application, this item was deferred to a future meeting.

There was no urgent business.