Rachel Hall, Licensing Team Manager, Mike Richardson, Head of Planning Management & Delivery and Catherine Warbrick, Team Manager Noise Control will be present for a questions and answers session.
Minutes:
The Chair welcomed the following Council officers to the meeting.
Mike Richardson – Head of Planning Management and Delivery
Rachael Hall – Licensing Team Manager
Robin Marston – Environmental Health Officer – Noise Team
The Chair gave those present the opportunity to ask questions relating to the Officers area of knowledge.
Nisa Store, Briton Street – A resident expressed concern that they had seen a notice advertising the fact that the planned Nisa Store had been given an alcohol license. It was felt that there was enough establishments of this kind in the area. Rachel Hall commented that the License hadn’t been granted as yet, there would be a hearing in the week following the meeting. There would be a chance for objectors to put their case. Councillor Connelly expressed disappointment that the planning approval for this shop was only approved following the intervention of a Councillor who wasn’t from the local area.
Western Road – A resident felt that there was more stringent planning rules in place in the West side of the Ward (Westcotes Drive, Harrow Road) in comparison to the East side (Western Road). Mike Richardson explained that different rules applied to different areas, if there was a conservation area status in place for example. He also noted that each planning application was considered on its own merits.
Fly-posting – A resident noted that this was a problem at traffic lights and on Virgin Media equipment boxes. It was queried whether examples of evidence could be collected and these could be presented to the Licensing Committee when an establishment’s license was up for renewal. Rachael Hall explained that there was no such thing as an annual renewal. However people who lived near an establishment or ‘responsible authorities’ ie the Police could call for a license to be reviewed if they had particular complaints relating to the four licensing objectives. A responsible authority could ask for a review on the basis of fly-posting problems, but this hadn’t happened yet. Councillor Connelly further explained that a no-flyer policy had recently been implemented in the city centre and around DeMontfort University and Bede Park. He felt that it would be a good idea to consider including fly-posting in this policy somehow.
Enforcement Action – A resident queried the timescale for the Council taking enforcement action once a notice had been served in relation to a planning matter. Mike Richardson explained that firstly the situation would have to be analysed to see if a breach had taken place, then a letter would be sent to the owner with a recommendation to submit a planning application. If a breach was still found after this, then an enforcement notice would be submitted outlining (reasonable) steps to be taken giving a suitable length of time in which they had to be carried out.
Business permits for residential parking – A resident raised a query with regard to the number of essential business permits that would be allowed under the proposed residents parking scheme. Transport Officer, Chris Middleton explained that this would be based on the parking standards approved by the Council’s Cabinet in 2003 on the basis of what was allowed in local planning policy guidance. This equated to approximately 1 permit per 60 square metres of business space.
Noise Control Powers – a resident welcomed new powers that noise control officers now had, but queried whether on the spot fines could be introduced to tackle to problem further. Robin Marston commented that there was now a noise service until 2am, which stronger powers under the new licensing act. However it was felt impractical for a noise control officer working on his/her own to serve fines in potentially dangerous circumstances.