Agenda and minutes

Councillor Pickering was appointed as Chair.

The Chair welcomed all present, informed the Committee regarding fire and evacuation safety protocols and led on introductions.

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 if they had any interests in the business to be discussed.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submits a report for an application for a variation of an existing premises licence for Shisha Café, 161 Belgrave Gate, Leicester.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report on an application for the variation of an existing premises licence for Arsad Café Ltd.

The applicants, Mrs Joanna Doci, Designated Premises Supervisor and Mr Armando Doci were present, alongside their legal representative, Ms Victoria Cartmell. Also present was PC Pritchard (Leicestershire Police), Libby Arculus (Enforcement) and Chris White (Noise Team) having made representation. The Licensing Team Manager (Policy and Applications) and the Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee were also present.

The Licensing Team Manager (Policy and Applications) presented the report. It was noted an application was received on 27^th November 2024 from the applicants.

PC Pritchard was given the opportunity to outline the details of the Police representation, which was made on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm, and answered questions from Members and the applicant’s legal representative.

The meeting was adjourned for ten minutes at the request of the applicant’s legal representative to consider new information that had been brought to light by Leicestershire Police’s representation. It was noted that all parties agreed to proceed with the meeting and the meeting resume at 10:37am.

Libby Arculus was given the opportunity to outline the details of the Enforcement representation, which had originally been made on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm, and answered questions from Members. However it was noted that an agreement had been reached between the Enforcement Team and the Applicant and therefore they had withdrawn their representation.

Chris White was given the opportunity to outline the details of the Noise Team representation, which was originally made on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance and answered questions from Members. However it was noted that an agreement had been reached between the Noise Team and the Applicant and therefore they had withdrawn their representation.

The Applicants and their legal representative were given the opportunity to present their case, and answered questions from Members of the Sub-Committee.

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 the decisions and reasons would be publicly announced and confirmed in writing within five working days. The Chair informed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

There being no other urgent business, the meeting closed at 11:34am.