At the request of the Chair, Ms Kathy Driver, Licensing Officer, introduced the report which detailed the application for a new club premises certificate for Globe Town Community Association, 152-156 Roman Road, London E2 0RY. It was noted that the premise was a members club and therefore the general members of the public did not have access to the club. It further noted that representations had been received by both objectors and supporters. 

At the request of the Chair, Mr Graham Hopkins, Licensing Agent on behalf of the Applicant, explained that the premises was a non-profit charity/community association and the sale of alcohol would help cover the overheads and services provided at the premises. Mr Hopkins explained that the premises had been in existence since the 1970’s without any incidents or complaints. He said the premises had air conditioning and central heating, had speakers for background music only, and that the premises had undergone sound insulation.

It was noted that there were currently 80-100 members of club, all were local residents and over the age of 30. He said the premises operated a Challenge 25 policy and each club member was allowed one guest only, whom the club member had to sign in. He explained that the venue provided a whole range of activities such as a book club, yoga sessions, painting classes, and self-defence classes with no charges. He emphasised how the premises was providing a service and a safe haven for local elderly and vulnerable residents.

Mr Hopkins highlighted the fact that there had been 4 objections and 6 representations in support of the application. He said they wanted to amend the application by reducing the terminal hour for sale of alcohol by 15 minutes allowing a drinking up time, the hours were within the Council’s framework hours and offered a number of conditions listed in the application. He believed that the concerns raised by the objectors would be alleviated by the conditions proposed and the modest hours applied for. He confirmed that the premises was not a pub, but a community club for local residents, the premises had good history and was a positive venue for the area. 

Sub-Committee Members then heard from Mr Derek Burges, Mr Mashud Kobir and Mr Ken Maulkerson, local residents, all in support of the premises. They all expressed similar support for the premises, highlighting the fact that it was a community hub for the area, a safe place for the elderly residents in the community to socialise and meet others. They were of the view that there had been no issues of noise nuisance or public nuisance associated with the premises in the past and the operators were of good nature and character. The supporters expressed their strong support for the premises and believed the premises to be a safe and friendly place for locals to meet and socialise and were they provide services to the elderly and vulnerable.

It was noted that the objectors were not present at the meeting, but the Sub- Committee nonetheless noted and considered their written objections contained in the agenda pack.

In response to questions from Sub-Committee Members the following was noted;

-       That only background music is played in the premises.

-       That a licence for indoor sporting events was not required as the members of the club would occasionally be playing darts and holding darts competitions, rather than staging a public spectator event.

-       That a drug policy was in place and that staff did a regular sweep of the rest rooms every hour. It was explained that if anyone was caught with drugs the police would be called and person(s) would be ejected from the premises and their club membership would be revoked if they were a club member, rather than a guest.  

Concluding remarks were made on behalf of the applicant.

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 licencing objectives:

1. The Prevention of Crime and Disorder;
2. Public Safety;
3. The Prevention of Public Nuisance; and
4. The Protection of Children from Harm.

Consideration

Each application must be considered on its own merits. The Chair confirmed that the Sub-Committee had carefully considered all of the evidence before them and the oral representations made by the Applicant, his representative and supporters at the meeting. None of the residential objectors attended to address their representations. The Sub-Committee had nonetheless read these and taken them into account when making its decision.

The Sub-Committee took into account the nature of the premises. It is a member only club, offering drinks, social activities such as darts, pool, yoga sessions etc, being run as a community association and a non-profit making operation. The Sub-Committee noted that the applicant confirmed that a club member can take in one guest, who they have to sign in. The Sub-Committee welcomed the efforts made by the Applicant in offering some robust conditions and noted the overwhelming support for the premises from local residents. It was evident that the premises were an asset to the local community providing a safe and friendly environment for the elderly and vulnerable residents in the local community.

The removal of all forms of regulated entertainment and the reduction in the hours for sale of alcohol together with the conditions proposed gave the Sub-Committee the assurance that the licensing objectives would be upheld.   

The Sub-Committee was also satisfied that with these amendments to the application, together with the conditions set out below, would reduce the risk of public nuisance, address concerns of the local resident objectors, and support the licensing objectives. 

Therefore, the Sub-Committee made a decision and the decision was unanimous to grant the application with conditions.

Accordingly, the Sub Committee unanimously;

RESOLVED

That the application for a new club premises certificate for Globe Town Community Association, 152-156 Roman Road, London E2 0RY be GRANTED with conditions.    

Supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to the order of members of the club and their guests (On Sales Only)

Monday – Saturday from 12:00 hours to 22:45 hours

Sunday from 12:00 hours to 21:45 hours

Hours club premises are open to the members and guests

Monday – Saturday from 12:00 hours to 23:00 hours

Sunday from 12:00 hours to 22:00 hours

Conditions

1.    The premises shall install and maintain a comprehensive CCTV system as per the minimum requirements of the Tower Hamlets Police Licensing Team. All entry and exit points will be covered enabling frontal identification of every person entering in any light condition. The CCTV system shall continually record whilst the premises is open for licensable activities and during all times when customers remain on the premises. All recordings shall be stored for a minimum period of 31 days with date and time stamping. Viewing of recordings shall be made available immediately upon the request of Police or authorised officer throughout the entire 31 day period.

2.    A staff member from the premises who is conversant with the operation of the CCTV system shall be on the premises at all times when the premises are open. This staff member must be able to provide a Police or authorised council officer copies of recent CCTV images or data with the absolute minimum of delay when requested.

3.    When the designated premises supervisor is not on the premises, any or all persons authorised to sell alcohol will be authorised by the designated premises supervisor in writing. This shall be available on request by the Police or any authorised officer.

4.    A CCTV warning notice shall be displayed inside and outside the premises.

5.    An incident log shall be kept at the premises, and be available on request to the Police or an authorised officer.

6.    Bottle bins or banks shall only be emptied between 08:00 hours and 21:00 hours Monday to Saturday and between 09:00 hours and 21:00 hours on Sundays.

7.    Notices shall be prominently displayed at all exists requesting patrons to respect the needs of local residents and businesses and leave the area quietly.

8.    A Challenge 25 proof of age scheme shall be operated at the premises where the only acceptable forms of identification are recognised photographic identification cards, such as a driving licence, passport or proof of age card with the PASS Hologram.

9.    A record shall be kept detailing all refused sales of alcohol. The record should include the date and time of the refused sale and the name of the member of staff who refused the sale. The record shall be available for inspection at the premises by the police or an authorised officer at all times whilst the premises is open.

10. No noise shall emanate from the premises nor vibration be transmitted through the structure of the premises, which gives rise to a nuisance.

11. Code of conduct to be displayed in the entrance hall to the premises.

12. Subject to the club rules regarding guests, members only are to be permitted entry. Members must abide by the club code of conduct. Membership may be revoked if that code of conduct is breached.

13. An anti-drug policy to be in place, with regular sweeps and checks to be undertaken.

14. No more than two members to be permitted to smoke outside the premises at any one time.

15. No children under the age of 18 to be permitted entry unless accompanied by a member of the club.