Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest, identified in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine: whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take. For further details, see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

Members are also reminded to declare the nature of the interest at the earliest opportunity and the agenda item it relates to. Please note that ultimately it is the Members’ responsibility to identify any interests and also update their register of interest form as required by the Code.

If in doubt as to the nature of an interest, you are advised to seek advice prior the meeting by contacting the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services.

There were no declarations of interest.

The rules of procedure were noted.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 23^rd July and 6^th August 2024.

The minutes of the meetings held on 23^rd July and 6^th August 2024 were agreed and approved as a correct record. 

At the request of the Chair, Ms Corrine Holland, Licensing Officer introduced the report which detailed an application by Qari Azimi to vary the premises licence held in respect of Perfetto Pizza, 391 Cambridge Heath Road, London, E2 9RA (“the Premises”). The current licence authorises the provision of late night refreshment from 23:00 hours to 01:00 hours the following morning from Thursday to Sunday. The application sought authorisation to provide late night refreshment seven days per week from 23:00 hours to 05:00 hours.

It was noted that the application received representations against it from the Licensing Authority and from the Environmental Health Team. These were predominantly based upon the Premises’ location within the Bethnal Green Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) and that the applicant had not rebutted the presumption against the grant of the licence. The responsible authorities asserted that the application would negatively impact upon the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance.

The Sub-Committee was informed that the applicant had reached an agreement with the police as to the hours and conditions. This was that the Premises would provide late night refreshment from 23:00 hours to 03:00 hours Monday to Sunday and that from 01:00 hours to 03:00 hours the provision of late night refreshment would be by delivery only.

At the request of the Chair, Mr Qari Azimi, applicant, explained that the reason for the variation was to ensure that the business was viable. There was a great deal of competition with other businesses, some of which were permitted to stay open later, such as the Wild Bean Café at 319 Cambridge Heath Road, and Best Kebab 503 Cambridge Heath Road. Mr Azimi further explained that the business was a family-run business, there was no regulated entertainment and had CCTV camera system in operation. It was also noted that there were no complaints from residents about their operation to date.

Members then heard from Mr Mohshin Ali, who addressed the Sub-Committee on behalf of the Licensing Authority. He told the Sub-Committee that there had been an allegation in October 2023 of the Premises opening beyond their permitted hours. A warning letter was sent and a visit carried out on 16^th October 2023. That visit showed the Premises was closed after 01:00 hours. The application made no mention of the Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) and the onus was on the applicant to show that they would not add to the problems within the CIZ. He submitted that the Sub-Committee had heard nothing about the promotion of the licensing objectives, merely the need for licensed hours. He asked that if the Sub-Committee was minded to grant the application, it should be with reduced hours.

Members also heard from Ms Nicola Cadzow on behalf of Environmental Protection who echoed Mr. Ali’s concerns. She noted that although there had been agreement with the police, the applicant had not spoken to her. There were no additional conditions being proposed and she was mindful of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.1

At the request of the Chair, Ms Corrine Holland, Licensing Officer introduced the report which detailed an application licence to be held in respect of The Pickle Factory, 11-14 The Oval, London, E2 9DT (“the Premises”). The application sought authorisation for licensable activities as follows:

The sale by retail of alcohol (on and off sales)

Monday to Wednesday      12:00 hours to 23:00 hours

Thursday                           12:00 hours to 03:30 hours

Friday and Saturday          12:00 hours to 05:00 hours

Sunday                              12:00 hours to 02:00 hours

Regulated entertainment (Films, live and recorded music – indoors and outdoors)

Monday to Wednesday      12:00 hours to 00:00 hours

Thursday                           12:00 hours to 04:30 hours

Friday and Saturday          12:00 hours to 06:00 hours

Sunday                              12:00 hours to 03:00 hours

The provision of late night refreshment (indoors and outdoors)

Monday to Wednesday      23:00 hours to 00:00 hours

Thursday                           23:00 hours to 04:30 hours

Friday and Saturday          23:00 hours to 06:00 hours

Sunday                              23:00 hours to 03:00 hours

The opening hours mirrored the hours for the provision of regulated entertainment.

The application attracted a number of representations against it. These were from the Environmental Health and from local residents. These were broadly concerned with the licensing objectives of the prevention of public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder. The representation from the Noise Service was withdrawn in advance of the hearing, the applicant and the authority having reached agreement about a number of matters.

It was also noted that there were a number of representations in support of the application. These were also from local residents as well as charitable organisations and industry bodies.

At the request of the Chair, Mr Matthew Butt KC, applicant’s representative, confirmed that the venue had its challenges but that this was also an opportunity for the Premises to undergo substantial refurbishment and for the licence to be improved. He mentioned that there was already an existing licence in operation for the venue, which applied in respect of 14 The Oval. This meant that the venue already traded and could continue to trade, albeit with a reduced capacity. The proposed application would address existing issues such that the licence, if granted, would allow the Premises to trade with a larger capacity and mitigate existing issues.

Mr. Butt referred to his written submissions in the second supplemental pack. He explained that the venue had been trading for around nine years and emphasised that there was no connection between the applicant and the Oval Space or the management of Oval Space. He explained that the venues were completely different with respect to their management, operation style, clientele, etc.

Mr. Butt explained the refurbishment plans and drew the Sub-Committee’s attention to the computer designs of the layout in the first supplemental agenda pack. The investment would cost around £1.7m and would allow the fabric of the building to be brought up to a modern standard and allow for appropriate noise attenuation measures to be implemented.

Mr. Butt told the Sub-Committee that the Premises did  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.2

The Sub Committee may be requested to extend the decision deadline for applications to be considered at forthcoming meetings due to the volume of applications requiring a hearing.  Where necessary, details will be provided at the meeting.

The following application decision deadlines were extended to 31^st December 2024;

·       Quiz Room, 19-25 Bell Lane, London, E1 7LA

·       Tea Garden, 138 Whitechapel Road 1E1 1JE

·       The Bourbon/Kisses from Nonna) 387 Roman Road, London E3 5QR

·       Z & H One Rice Ltd, 46 Brick Lane, E1

·       The Cave Basement Algha Group Ltd, 83 Smeed Road, London, E3 2NR

·       Knave of Clubs, 1 Club Row, London E1

·       5 Newfoundland Place E14 4BH

·       10 Newfoundland Place, London, E14 4BH

·       Osteria Angelina, RU10, 1 Nicholl's & Clarke Yard, London E1 6SH