Agenda and minutes

The meeting commenced at 9.50am to allow Leicestershire Police and the Solicitor to the hearing panel to view additional information received for Agenda Item 4, application for a review of an existing premises licence: Long Bar, 29 Market Street, Leicester, LE1 6DN.

Councillor Clarke was elected as Chair for the meeting.

There were no apologies for absence.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed.

Members were asked to declare an Disclosable Pecuniary or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in the business on the agenda.

Councillor Clarke declared an Other Disclosable Interest, as he had chaired a previous hearing for a Temporary Event Notice submitted by the Long Bar, but he would take the application before him on its own merits.

Councillor Clarke declared an Other Disclosable Interest as he had sat on a previous hearing for an application for Sumo for a Temporary Event Notice, but he would take the application before him on its own merits.

Councillor Thomas declared an Other Disclosable Interest as he Chaired a previous hearing for an application for Sumo for a Temporary Event Notice, but he would take the application before him on its own merits.

The Director of Environmental Services submits a report on an application for a review of an existing premises licence, for Long Bar, 29 Market Street, Leicester, LE1 6DN.

Report attached. A copy of the associated documentation is attached for Members only. Further copies are available on the Council’s website at www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk or by phoning Democratic Support on 229 8897.

The Director, Environmental Services, submitted a report that required Members to determine an application for a review of an existing premises licence for Long Bar, 29 Market Street, Leicester, LE1 6DN.

Ms Shabina Ladh (Solicitor), Mr John Snell (Instructed Barrister), Mr Yogesh Sharma (Licence holder and Designated Premises Supervisor), Mr Rakesh Dhyani, Mr Phillip Copson (Client Security Solutions), Mr J Alli (Door Supervisor) and Mr Anthony Dzvorski were present at the meeting for Long Bar. Inspector Nigel Rixon, PC Tejas Mavani (Police) and the Licensing Team Manager (Enforcement) were present as persons who had made representations. The Licensing Team Manager (Policy & Applications) and Solicitor to the hearing panel were also present.

Introductions were made and the procedure for the meeting was outlined to those present.

The Instructed Barrister for Long Bar requested that additional information be received by the Members of the hearing panel. The Police said that all other evidence was submitted two weeks prior to the hearing, and after viewing the additional information, there was not enough time for the police to investigate and respond to it. They did not agree to the request.

The Solicitor to the hearing panel said any document should be submitted five days prior to a hearing, and that it was a decision for the hearing panel as to whether they accepted the additional information. Any information presented at the hearing could only be accepted with the agreement of all parties.

The Licensing Team Manager (Policy & Applications) said the applicant (Police) had served documentation on the City Council and Long Bar on the same day, the 26^th November 2013, following which there was a 28-day representation period, during which period additional information was received from the applicant.

AGREED:

The Chair said the hearing panel would not allow the submission of additional papers from Long Bar due to the lateness of the submission.

The Licensing Team Manager (Policy & Applications) presented the report. The Licensing Team Manager (Policy & Applications) explained that her presence at the meeting was neutral to the application, and that all questions should be directed through the Chair.

The Police outlined the reasons for the review application and answered questions from Members:

·         A further statement outlining an additional incident and the retraction of evidence, namely a disc containing CCTV footage, was distributed as second despatch to all parties prior to the meeting.

·         The incidents listed in the review application from the Police were linked to CCTV evidence to confirm incidents were associated with Long Bar.

·         An application for a review of a premises licence was a last resort taken by the Police, and Long Bar was brought for review due to the significant number of incidents which were putting the public at risk.

·         To assist the premises with issues, an Action Plan was implemented and guidance was issued, but the Plan had been unsuccessful.

·         The bar was within mainly eateries and retail premises.

·         The Long Bar remained open for the latest time on Market Street.

·         The present owners took  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Director of Environmental Services submits a report on an application for a variation of an existing premises licence within a cumulative impact zone, for Sumo, 54 Braunstone Gate, Leicester, LE3 5LG.

Report attached. A copy of the associated documentation is attached for Members only. Further copies are available on the Council’s website at www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk or by phoning Democratic Support on 229 8897.

The Director, Environmental Services, submitted a report that required Members to determine an application for the variation of an existing premises licence within a Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) for Sumo, 54 Braunstone Gate, Leicester, LE3 5LG.

Members noted that representations had been received in respect of the application, which necessitated that the application had to be considered by Members.

Mr Andrew Walder, Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), Mr Neil Cooper (Noise Control Team), Inspector Nigel Rixon, PC Tejas Mavani and PC Jon Webb (observing) were present at the meeting. Also presented were the Solicitor to the hearing panel and Licensing Team Manager.

Introductions were made and the procedure for the meeting was outlined to those present.

The Licensing Team Manager presented the report. It was noted that a representation had been received from Leicester City Council’s Noise Team which related to the prevention of public nuisance. The hearing panel was informed that an agreement had been reached between the applicant and the Noise Team that “Licensed activities and opening times on a Sunday night shall continue to be as specified on the existing premises licence, namely 11.00 to 01.00 for licensed activities and 11.00 to 02.30 for opening times other than Sunday before a bank holiday when licensed activities shall cease at 04.00 and the premises shall close at 04.00”. Copies of the representation and agreement were attached to the report.

It was also noted that a representation had been received from Leicestershire Police which related to the prevention of crime and disorder and prevention of public nuisance.

The Police outlined the reasons for the representation and answered questions from Members:

·         The premises was sited in a CIZ, and was a busy area.

·         The premises had a large outside area which led to Braunstone Gate.

·         The applicant had not referred to the CIZ or how they would mitigate impact on the area.

·         The Police did not believe that the requested removal of conditions would affect the CIZ, however, they did not agreed with the increase in licensable activities on Sunday into Monday.

·         The Police requested additional conditions be added to the licence as listed in the report.

Mr Cooper, Noise Control Team, outlined the reasons contained in the representation and subsequent agreement, and answered questions from Members:

·         There were concerns with regards to the premises opening later on Sunday evening and noise. One issue was persons entering and leaving the premises.

·         In 2013 two Temporary Event Notices (TENs) were given, and there was a complaint at each of the events with regards to noise after 02.00, but there had been no way of ascertaining whether the noise was from Sumo.

·         Many of the complaints about the premises came from residents of the River Buildings at the rear of the premises.

·         The premises had proper use of a noise limiting device.

·         The proposal for increasing licensable activities and opening hours on Sunday evenings was made in error, and an agreement had been reached with the premises for the hours on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The meeting closed at 1.40pm.