The Committee and Scrutiny Support Officer confirmed that the Sub-Committee would comprise Councillors K Crout, P Jeffree and H Lynch.

The Sub-Committee was asked to elect a Chair for the Hearing.

RESOLVED –

that Councillor K Crout be elected Chair for this Hearing.

There were no disclosures of interest.

This report asks the Sub-Committee to consider a new premises licence application following the receipt of representations.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Head of Community and Customer Services setting out details of an application for a new premises licence by Melo Cafe and details of the representations received.

All parties present introduced themselves.

The Licensing Manager introduced the report.  He informed the Sub-Committee that this was an application for a new premises licence for a small café which specialised in Brazilian and Portuguese products.  There was a capacity of approximately 30 customers and a small outdoor area of two  tables and four chairs.  Following discussions with the Applicant, the outdoor area would not be licensed for alcohol sales.  The only licensable activity which was being sought was the consumption of alcohol on the premises until 9 pm each day with the premises closing at 10 pm. The Operating Schedule detailed the specific controls that had been offered by the Applicant and he outlined what these would be.  Two representations had been received. Mr Khalik was present to outline his concerns and the representation from Mrs Doheny concentrated on the issue of noise from customers in the premises.  He considered that this aspect of the representation may have been over-represented in the officer's report.  There was no specific reference to antisocial behaviour in her representation and it did not detail why women may feel intimidated nor any evidence for this.  The premises were defined under policy LP1 as a cafe/bar and the hours sought were within the hours in the policy.  He invited the Sub-Committee to consider how much weight the representations should carry and whether any additional conditions would be appropriate.  He referred to the draft licence which had been circulated and the conditions included in that document. 

Mr Khalik referred to the nature of the neighbourhood which was a residential one.  He described the problems with smoking and drugs that he was aware of.  He asked if the Licensing Manager had visited the area and whether he considered the application would have a good impact on the neighbourhood.  The Licensing Manager answered that this was for the Sub-Committee to determine.

Mr Khalik gave a further description of the problems he had encountered in accessing his flat and the fights there had been.  The Chair asked whether there had been any representations which reflected Mr Khalik's concerns.  The Licensing Manager responded that there had not been any representations from the Police or other statutory agencies.

Mr Fender referred to the apparent duplication of conditions on page 19 of the agenda.  These were a replication of the proposed measures in the application.  The first condition, number 8, referred to people leaving the premises.  Condition 9 should state that those customers using the outside area should leave that that area quietly.  The phrase "who are leaving the premises" in condition 9 should not be there.

Mr Khalik presented his representation to the Sub-Committee.  He noted that the premises was situated on the corner and his view was that alcohol should not be served on the premises.  He  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.