Agenda, decisions and draft minutes
Venue: Committee Room C1, 1st Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG
Contact: Elizabeth Dowuona, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4120, E-mail: elizabeth.dowuona@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST PDF 64 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 disclosable pecuniary interest.
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To note the rules of procedure which are attached for information. Additional documents: Minutes: The rules of procedure were noted.
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ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION |
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Application for a New Premises Licence for Jala News, 6 Lamb Street, London E1 6EA PDF 107 KB Additional documents: Minutes: At the request of the Chair, Mr Mohshin Ali, Licensing Officer, introduced the report which detailed the application for a new premises licence for Jala News, 6 Lamb Street, London E1 6EA. It was noted that objections had been made by the Metropolitan Police, the Licensing Authority and local residents and Residents Associations.
At the request of the Chair, Mr Surendra Panchal, Licensing Representative on behalf of the Applicant explained that the premise was a modern local community convenience store and that the application was for a new licence for the sale of alcohol. He highlighted the Applicant’s experience, and explained that the applicant had recently relocated his premises in Commercial Street in the Borough, having operated a similar outfit in for over 10 years without incidence.
Mr Panchal stated that in light of the representations the Applicant was willing to amend the sale of alcohol from 09:00 hours to 22:30 hours Monday to Sunday which he believed would go far in helping address the concerns raised by the objectors. In addition, he submitted a one-page document setting out a range of conditions to address the concerns raised and to promote the licensing objectives. The proposed conditions were set out as follows: 1. CCTV shall be installed to Home Office Guidance standards and maintained in good working conditions and recordings shall be kept for 31 days and shall be made available to police and authorised Officers from the Council upon request. CCTV cameras shall be installed to cover the entrance of the premises. The CCTV system shall be capable of obtaining clear facial recognition images and a clear head and shoulder image of every person entering or leaving the premises. 2. A minimum of two (2) members of staff must be present after 18.00hrs during the sale of alcohol. At least one (1) of these two (2) members of staff must be a personal licence holder fluent in English. 3. No high strength beers, lagers and cider above 5.6% ABV shall be stocked or sold. 4. No single cans or bottles of beer, lager or cider shall be sold. 5. All beers, lagers and ciders in cans and bottles to be sold as a minimum of Two (2). 6. No miniature bottles of spirits to be sold. 7. A “challenge 25” policy shall be adopted and adhered to. A sign stating “No proof of age – No sale” shall be displayed at the point of sale. 8. A clear and unobstructed view into the premises shall be maintained at all times. 9. Notices asking customers to leave quietly shall be conspicuously displayed at all times. 10.A register/log containing the logs of any Refusals that occur shall be kept and made available to the Police and Licencing Authority 11.Staff shall inspect the outside forecourt, immediately in front of the premise on a regular basis, to deter customers and/or other members of the public loitering in this area. 12.All staff directly involved in selling alcohol for retail ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: At the request of the Chair, Mr Mohshin Ali, Licensing Officer, introduced the report which detailed the application for a new premises licence for Hungry Donkey, 56 Wentworth Street, London E1 7AL. It was noted that there were objections from local residents.
At the request of the Chair, Ms Lana Tricker, Licensing Representative on behalf of the Applicant, Mr Markos Tsimikalis, explained that the premise was a restaurant specialising in Greek food and wine. The application was for a new licence for the sale of alcohol, the provision of late night refreshment and for recorded music to be played for the hours specified in the application.
In response to questioning, Ms Tricker further explained that the restaurant would serve breakfast lunch and dinner. She noted the concerns regarding location of the premises which was within the Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ), however explained that the hours sought was within the Council’s framework hours. She was confident that the proposed hours and operation along with conditions proposed which limited activities and the operation would not add to the cumulative impact or be detrimental to the licensing objectives. There were good transport links near the premises and it would have a positive effect on the borough. The Applicant had sought to liaise with the local residents advising them of the revised conditions following comments from the Metropolitan Police and Environmental Health responsible authorities during the period of consultation, but to date, there had been no responses received. The Applicant had accepted the conditions suggested by the Police and Environmental Health in order to promote the licensing objectives in particular to address the concerns relating to the prevention of crime and disorder and as a result there had been no objections from them on the application.
Ms Tricker pointed to the amendments to the application regarding the hours of operation, hours for the sale of alcohol and provision of late night refreshment and underlined that there would be no vertical drinking, and alcohol would be served by waitress service. In addition, she submitted a one-page document setting out the internal layout and ambience of the premises which showed that it was of a high standard.
The Clerk advised that the objectors were not present at the meeting and that all correspondence had been sent within the prescribed timelines. In the absence of the objectors, Members noted and considered the written objection contained within the agenda.
Members retired to consider their decision at 2.40pm and reconvened at 2.50pm.
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.
Consideration
Each application must be considered on its own merits and after careful consideration the Chair stated that the Sub Committee had carefully listened to and applicant and considered all the written representations in the absence of the interested parties.
Members decided to grant the application subject ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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Additional documents: Minutes: The application was withdrawn on the grounds that all the objections against the application had been withdrawn.
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EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC “That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting for the consideration of the Section Two business on the grounds that it contains information defined as Exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972.”
Minutes: RESOLVED
That in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting for the consideration of the Section Two business on the grounds that it contained information defined as exempt or confidential in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government, Act 1972.
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Application for a Review under Section 53 A of the Licensing Act 2003 for Westferry Arms, 43 West India Dock Road, London E14 8EZ Minutes: At the request of the Chair, Mr Mohshin Ali, Licensing Officer, introduced the report which detailed the Full Review under Section 53A of the Licensing Act 2003 of the premise licence for Westferry Arms, 43 West India Dock Road, London E14 8EZ. It was noted that the review had been triggered by the Metropolitan Police due to serious crime and disorder.
At the interim hearing on 22nd April 2015 the Licensing Sub-Committee decided to suspend the license until the full review could be heard. This decision was based on evidence from the Police of serious crime and disorder and agreement with the licence holders to suspend the licence.
Complainants case.
At the request of the Chair, PC Mark Perry explained that the Tower Hamlets Police had had serious concerns regarding drug dealing and taking at the Westferry Arms, and its link to local gangs. This led to a review in January 2015 which was unsuccessful, therefore a drugs raid and review was built on the evidence from that review.
PC Perry referred to a catalogue of drugs enforcement excercises at the premises as set out in 7 to 25 of Section 2 of the agenda, detailing the review application. He explained that the police undertook drugs enforcement excercises at the premises from June 2013 to April 2015 as a result of concerns about crime and disorder at the premises. PC Perry referred to several drugs raids in February 2015 carried out on a number of premises in the Borough believed to be associated with the supply of drugs. The home of a Mr Jerome Cowie who was known to the police and suspected of supplying was one of such premises raided. Ms Sandra Duncan the Designated Premises Supervisor of the Westferry Arms was found at this address where she and Mr Cowie were found in possession of Class A drugs. On 10 April 2015, the police had conducted a covert licensing visit of the Westferry Arms in response to suspected drug dealing and use and criminality being conducted on the premises. During the visit to the premises, undercover police officers witnessed Mr Cowie and Mr Ruffle facilitating the sale of drugs. The undercover officers had reported that it appeared there was a rota of lookouts involving Mr Cowie, Mr Ruffle, the barmaid and the door staff. The undercover officers had also witnessed cocaine being used in the cubicles in the men’s toilets on several occasions by Mr Cowie and Mr Ruffle and other patrons.
On 17th April 2015, the police undertook a drugs raid at the premises. Four patrons were found in possession of class A drugs and several wraps of drugs were found on the floor. As Mr Cowie tried to leave the premises he dropped wraps of drugs and assaulted a Police Officer. Mr Cowie and Mr Ruffle were found in possession of both cannabies and concaine and subsequently arrested, charged with possession of class A and B drugs and remanded in custody. Two other ... view the full minutes text for item 8. |