Agenda, decisions and minutes
Venue: The Council Chamber, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG
Contact: Simmi Yesmin, Senior Democratic Services Officer Tel: 020 7364 4120, E-mail: simmi.yesmin@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST PDF 117 KB To note any declarations of interest made by Members, including those restricting Members from voting on the questions detailed in Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992. See attached note from the Monitoring Officer.
Minutes: There were no declarations of interests made.
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To note the rules of procedure which are attached for information. Additional documents: Minutes: There rules of procedure were noted.
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING(S) PDF 234 KB To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 1st and 29th October 2019.
Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on the 1st and 29th October 2019 were agreed as an accurate record of the proceedings.
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ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: At the request of the Chair, Mr Mohshin Ali, Senior Licensing Officer, introduced the report which detailed the application for a licence for Silver Sockeye, Wapping Pier, King Henry’s Stairs, Wapping High Street, London E1W 2NR. It was noted that representations had been made by local residents.
Mr Andrew Woods, the Applicant’s legal representative, explained the licence was for a private hire river boat, which would be moored at Wapping Pier. Mr Woods said the conditions offered by the Applicant in the operating schedule made clear, members of the public would not be embarking or disembarking from the boat at this location. The mooring would be the home of the river boat with a maximum of three members of staff using Wapping Pier when leaving or returning to the pier. There would be no music or alcohol on board when the boat is moored.
Mr Woods said this was a family run business that had been in operation since 1947, and which had two other similar vessels. He said the application for the sale of alcohol and regulated entertainment related to when the boat would be on the river, and not when it is moored at the pier.
There were no objectors in attendance at the meeting. However the Sub-Committee noted their concerns in relation to public nuisance, in particular noise disturbance of passengers embarking and disembarking.
In response to questions from Members, the following was noted:
· The maximum capacity of the boat is 195 passengers and crew. However the average party group consisted of 60 to 80 people. The boat is hired mainly for corporate events. · The boat has recently operated under a Temporary Event Notice, in relation to an event involving 70 guests in respect of which there were no complaints · The timings applied for (6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.) make allowance for the rare occasion a party runs later than midnight. However on average a party would normally cease at 10:00 p.m. or 11:00 p.m. It is also to ensure the timings are consistent with the times operated by the other boats run by the business making it easier to offer clients flexibility in hiring across the fleet of boats. · The Applicant reassured Members that no guests would be embarking or disembarking from the boat at Wapping Pier. It was the boat’s home, and so it would only be moored at the Pier.
Members adjourned the meeting at 18:53 hours for deliberations and reconvened at 19:32 hours.
The Licensing Objectives
In considering the application, Members were required to consider the same in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 (as amended), the Licensing Objectives, the Home Office Guidance and the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and in particular to have regard to the promotion of the four licensing objectives:
1. The Prevention of Crime and Disorder 2. Public Safety 3. The Prevention of Public Nuisances; and 4. The Protection of Children from Harm
Consideration
Each application must be considered on its own merit. The Chair confirmed that the ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: At the request of the Chair, Mr Mohshin Ali, Senior Licensing Officer, presented the report which detailed the application for a new premises licence for Funky Cellar, Old Spitalfields Market, 10a Lamb Street, London E1 6EA. It was noted representations had been made by local residents.
Mr Mathew Butt, Counsel for the Applicant explained his client was applying for a new licence, which was similar in nature to the one operated by the previous owners. He said it was evident local residents had experienced difficulties with the previous owner. However the Applicant was not related to the previous owner in any way. Mr Butt said the Applicant was a responsible operator, who had a similar business interest in another part of London, and whilst it would have been beneficial to have transferred the previous licence, the licence had lapsed, when the previous owner went into administration.
In addressing the licensing objectives, Mr Butt said the Applicant’s application fulfilled the criteria stated in paragraph 19.8 of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, set out on page 263 of the agenda pack; namely that it is a set of small premises with a capacity of fifty persons or less, which intended to operate within the framework hours. The premises would not be alcohol led as the alcohol was ancillary to a food business, and the site had previously been the subject of a premises licence in like terms to the licence now sought. The previous premises licence having ceased when the previous unrelated premises licence holder had gone into administration. Mr Butt offered further conditions stating the Applicant would withdraw that part of the application regarding the provision of regulated entertainment, in order to address the licensing objective of public nuisance and noise disturbance to residents living above and adjacent to the premises. Mr Butt said should the Sub-Committee be minded to grant the licence, the Applicants would consider implementing new refrigeration units at the premises, which would have sliding doors to contain smell emanating from the cheeses it was selling, even though the smell and eating of cheeses was not a licensable activity. Furthermore, the Applicant would ensure the ventilation fan would be in operation whenever licensable activity took place.
Members heard from Mr Jonathan Stebbins, President of the Spitalfields Market Residents Association, who was representing local residents. Mr Stebbins said that whilst residents welcomed new businesses in the area, they had to be mindful of the area being a mixed commercial and residential area. The buildings were old Victorian structures, within which noise and smell travelled. The buildings were not insulated and occupants of the flat above the premises had experienced particular difficulties relating to the smell of cheeses as well as noise disturbance from music played by the previous owners. Mr Stebbins said there had been an incremental rise in the number of commercial businesses in the area and the cumulative impact zone was in place to redress this balance. Mr Stebbins questioned whether the premises fell within the ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |