Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

There were no declarations.

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.”

The Chair stated that Item 7, Story Cellar, was resolved ahead of the hearing and therefore would not be considered.

The Chair stated that since publication of the agenda, two supplementary agendas had been published. Supplementary Agenda 1 (in relation to item 6, the Turtle Bay application) and Supplementary Agenda 2 (in relation to item 8, the Babylon Park application).

There were no items of urgent business.

To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 23 June 2022 and 28 July 2022.

RESOLVED -

THAT the minutes of the meetings held on 23 June 2022 and 28 July 2022 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, Samina Khan, summarised the report. Since publication of the main agenda, revisions to the Applicant’s proposed conditions had been published (pages 51-54 of Supplementary Agenda 1).

Paru Bhudia, Licensing Authority Officer responsible authority, summarised her representation and reasons why the Licensing Authority proposed conditions should be accepted (pages 131-135 of the main agenda). In addition, she stated that if the Panel were minded to approve the application, that the additional conditions proposed by the Licensing Authority should be adopted in order to promote the licensing objectives.

Christopher Malone, Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Licensing Officer responsible authority, summarised his representation and reasons why the MPS proposed conditions should be accepted (pages 127-130 of the main agenda). In addition, he stated:

·       The primary MPS focus was the acceptance of the restaurant condition for the premises to operate as a food-led venue.

·       The MPS was not concerned with how the premises would be operated, but the alcohol-led nature of the venue as an addition to the Cumulative Impact Area (CIA).

·       In relation to proposed condition A)13 from the Applicant, the MPS proposed a revision for the Panel to consider; that a minimum of 80% of the venue consuming alcohol ancillary to a substantial meal and vertical drinking or no waiter/waitress service for the remaining 20%.

·       A condition for a ‘hatched drinking area’ had also been suggested by the MPS

Caroline Dyott, resident interested party, summarised her representation.  She stated that in the area of the premises there was already noise disturbances and violence from late night venues. Patrons to other venues in the local area engaged in outdoor street drinking at venue closing time. The night time disturbance was in addition to day-time disturbance from the venues, notably loud music, which together had a negative cumulative impact to local residents.

Kate McClaren, speaking on behalf of TRACT (Tenants and Residents Associations Camden Town) Network, summarised her representation. She stated that the capacity of the venue was of large scale, with the bar seating area accommodating 60 patrons. Residents also held concerns about the smoking area impacts and capacity, late night off-sales, waste collections, and motorised delivery vehicles; all of which would cause disturbances to local residents in an area that already experienced late night disturbances.

Felicity Tulloch, Agent on behalf of the Applicant, summarised the Application and revised conditions. She outlined the following:

·       The premises was a Caribbean inspired restaurant and bar with 45 sites across the country, 21 within CIAs. Turtle Bay was not and did not operate as a bar and was food-led. Similar size sites employed approx. 15 chefs and food served from 10am.

·       Within Supplementary Agenda 1, concerns within the representations had been addressed and the revised conditions would hold up the licensing objectives and operate within framework hours.

·       All but one of the representations sought revisions to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Report of the Executive Director Supporting Communities.

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

This application was resolved ahead of the hearing, therefore was not considered.

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 to vary a premises licence under section 34 of the Licensing Act 2003.

The Licensing Officer, Samina Khan, summarised the report. She stated that since the publication of the agenda the Police had withdrew their representation following amendments to conditions offered by the applicant.

Jon Wallsgrove, Agent on behalf of the Applicant, outlined the amendments to the application which were set out in Supplementary Agenda 2; the key changes moving Sunday to framework hours and that alcohol to only be sold with a pre-booked meal.

Paru Bhudia, Licensing Authority Officer responsible authority, summarised the main points in the Licensing Authority representation (pages 258-259 of the main agenda).

Kate McClaren, local resident interested party, summarised her representation (page 267 of the main agenda). In addition, she stated the following:

·       She understood this venue to be advertised as a children's entertainment centre and there was no need for an alcohol license if this venue was operating in its advertised capacity.

·       She did not agree that a small venue capacity should be as many as 60 persons.

·       Her concerns primarily rested in public nuisance of people leaving the premises between 21:00-22:00, and whether that would in reality be children and families or groups such as Stag or Hen parties. She stated that the risk of antisocial behaviour was notable due to the green space close to the premises.

·       In response to a Member asking whether her concerns were at all alleviated by the pre-booking requirement, Kate McClaren said she was not and would still attract planned party groups that were alcohol based.

Jon Wallsgrove, Agent, accompanied by Jonatan Sasson, the project manager representative of Babylon Park, outlined their application and additional conditions. In addition, he stated the following:

·       The Applicant’s amended conditions took into account all of the concerns raised by the representations, which had redefined the business plan for the premises.

·       The change to the application was the condition of the sale of alcohol requiring food being ancillary to a substantial meal, a significantly different application to what was originally put forward in terms of CIA policy, which led to the Police withdrawing their application.

·       He stated that the venue would not be alcohol-led and outlined the substantial food offer; ranging in a selection of platters priced at approx. £90 to serve 8-10 people and other dishes priced at approx. £9 per head. The drinks offer ranged from soft drinks to a limited selection of alcohol.

·       In relation to the licensing objective of the protection of children from harm, he stated there would be SIA door staff everyday. Customers would be hosted by a member of staff who served directly in the event rooms.

·       The suggestion that the venue would attract Stag and Hen party drinking culture and teenager drinking was not a reflection of how the premises would operate and if there was any incidents like that occurring the Babylon Park brand would be significantly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

There was no other urgent business.