Agenda item

The Director for Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services submits a report for a new premises licence for City of Leicester College, Downing Drive, Leicester.

Councillor Whittle, as Chair welcomed all to the Committee and outlined the proceedings of the hearing.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report on an Application for a New Premises Licence for City of Leicester College, Downing Drive, Leicester.

Mr Sean Whiting, Strategic Business Lead, on behalf of City of Leicester College was present. Also present were Licensing Team Manager (Enforcement), Licensing Team Manager (Policy and Applications) and the Legal Advisor to the Sub-Committee.

The Licensing Team Manager (Policy and Applications) presented the report and outlined details of the application.

A representation was received on 09 August 2023 from the Licensing Enforcement team. The representation related to the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance, public safety and the protection of children from harm. The representee was concerned that that allowing the premises to be used in accordance with the application, it would undermine the Licensing Objectives.

A representation was received on 13 August 2023 from a member of the public  The representation related to the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance. The representee was concerned that the local area would suffer noise nuisance, pollution and traffic issues if the licence was to be granted.

The Licensing Enforcement Team Manager was given the opportunity to outline the details of his representation and answered questions from Members and the applicant.

The Applicant was given the opportunity to present its case and answered questions from Members, the Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee and those giving representation.

All parties were given the opportunity to sum up their positions and make any final comments.

The Sub-Committee received legal advice from the Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee in the presence of all those present and were advised of the options available to them in making their decision.

The Sub-Committee were also advised of the relevant policy and statutory guidance that needed to be taken into account when making their decision, In reaching their decision, the Sub-Committee felt they should deliberate in private on the basis that this was in the public interest and as such outweighed the public interest of their deliberation taking place with the parties represented present, in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005.

The Chair announced that full reasons for the decision would be provided in writing within five working days. The Chair informed the meeting that the Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee would be called back to give advice on the wording of the decision.

The Chair then asked all but Members of the Sub-Committee and Democratic Support Officer to withdraw from the meeting. Members then deliberated in private to consider their decision.

In reaching their decision the Sub-Committee Members had carefully considered the written report presented by the Chief Licensing Officer and considered all the representations, both written and oral, and had taken account of the Statutory Guidance, the Regulators’ Code and the Council’s Licensing Policy.

The Sub-Committee recalled the Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee to give advice on the wording of the decision.

RESOLVED:

Having considered written and oral the representations in detail the committee’s decision was to GRANT the application subject to conditions.