Agenda and minutes

(Assistant to the Chief Executive) To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

Councillor T Thomas declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 5,  The Wheatsheaf, 15 York Hill, Loughton and agenda item 6, The White Bull, 2 Centric Parade, Loughton; by virtue of being a member of the Loughton Residents Association.

The Sub-Committee noted the agreed procedure for the conduct of business, and the terms of reference.

(Director of Corporate Support Services) To consider the attached report.

The Members who presided over the application were Councillors R Morgan, A Boyce and T Thomas.

The Chairman welcomed the participants and introduced the Members and Officers present and then requested that the participants introduce themselves to the Sub-committee. In attendance was the site operator Mr G Nareshkumar with Mr N Nareshkumar, and their legal representative Mr L Charalambides.  In attendance as an objector was Mr H Clare.

(a)        The Application before the Sub-Committee

The Legal Officer outlined the application for Shell UK Oil products at 124 Manor Road, Chigwell.  The application was for was for the provision of late night refreshment, indoors between 23.00 and 05.00 hours Monday to Sunday and the supply of alcohol – off premises from 00.00 to 24.00 hours Monday to Sunday.

The premises are to be open to the public from 00.00 to 24.00 hours Monday to Sunday.

A number of objections had been received from local residents.

(b)       Presentation of the Applicant’s Case

The Applicant’s legal representative explained that the application had been amended after consultation with local residents. They were now requesting that the hours be reduced for the sale of alcohol from 24 hours to 06.00 to 23.00 hours seven days a week.  Sales would only take place through the night hatch between the hours of 23.00 and 06.00.

He noted that the sale of late night refreshments would be restricted to the provision of hot drinks and snacks that are heated in a microwave (for example pasties and sausage rolls) and they were happy for this to be conditioned. 

He realised that there were a lot of fears and perceptions about late night venues but these were not based on facts. The police had reviewed this and had no concerns. 

He tabled a ‘due-diligence’ information sheet; this detailed the how the garage would operate. He also noted that they would be giving their staff any relevant training needed and would also be operating a ‘Challenge 25’ policy. They would also keep a refusal and an incident log, both would be available to the Police on request.

Measures were in place to meet the concerns raised; there would be no individual sales of cans and bottles, they would all be sold in multi-packs, the higher prices would deter the casual drinker. The site operator has 5 other sites providing similar services and is an experienced operator. The designated supervisor has held his licence since 1990 is also a very experienced, seasoned operator.

(c)        Questions by the Sub-committee

The Sub-committee had no questions for the applicant.

(d)       Questions from the Objector

Mr Clare asked if any of the applicants lived near to an all night service station. They replied that they did not.

(e)       Presentation of the Objector’s Case

Mr Clare said that he had lived there for 10 years. He regarded this application as just a way for making more money. This was a very busy station that tended to have a lot of Anti Social Behaviour. If the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

(Director of Corporate Support Services) To consider the attached report.

The members who presided over the application were Councillors R Morgan, A Boyce and P Spencer.

The Chairman welcomed the participants and introduced the Members and Officers present and then requested that the participants introduce themselves to the Sub-committee. In attendance was the site applicants Mrs Janet Smith, Mr James Smith and Mr Peter Smith. In attendance as an objector was Mr David Linnell on behalf of the Loughton Residents Association and a number of local residents. District Councillor Mrs C Pond was also in attendance.

For the District Council was David Baker, of the Council’s Planning Directorate and Chris Smith of the Council’s Environment Directorate.

(a)        The Application before the Sub-Committee

The Legal Officer outlined the application for ‘Fifteen’ (The Wheatsheaf), 15 York Hill, Loughton, which had applied to add recorded music and to extend their licensing times.

A number of objections had been received from local residents, the Loughton Residents Association, Loughton Town Council, the Hill’s Amenity Society and the ward councillor.

The Applicant had agreed conditions with Essex Police.

(b)       Presentation of the Applicant’s Case

The applicant said that at present they are open until 23.00 hours. Other premises have later opening hours than they had. They had newly refurbished the premises in keeping with the area.

They have been in business for 35 years and were happy to reach a compromise as there have been a lot of objections on the grounds of noise. They have made efforts to reduce the noise from their premises so much so that that their business has been reduced by 30 to 40%. They have asked to play background music only with no live music or DJ’s. The council’s Planning Officer has also agreed that we had reduced our noise levels. We close our doors and windows at 8pm to reduce the noise levels to the outside. Our competitors open later and make more noise. There have been no Anti Social Behaviour and no police objections.

(c)        Questions from the Sub-Committee

Councillor Boyce said that they were asking for a 1am closing time. Were they willing to negotiate? Mr Smith replied that they were; he was surprised at the number of objectors here today. No neighbours had complained and we have never had to call the police. We have also installed a ‘Challenge 25’ policy. They would offer a 00.00 hours finish time for Friday and Saturday nights and 23.00 hours for all other nights.

Councillor Morgan asked if this meant that they would stop selling alcohol at midnight and close the premises at 00.30 hours. Mr Smith agreed this was right.

Councillor Spencer asked if they were likely to increase their noise levels to get their customers back. Mr Smith said that they would not. They would make it more comfortable for customers to stay.

(d)       Questions from the Objectors

Mr Linnell asked if there would be any limit on the number of people allowed in. Mr Smith said that there was limit of 100 people and it would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

(Director of Corporate Support Services) To consider the attached report.

The members who presided over the application were Councillors R Morgan, A Boyce and P Spencer.

The Chairman welcomed the participants and introduced the Members and Officers present and then requested that the participants introduce themselves to the Sub-committee. In attendance were the applicant Mr L Whitelock and his legal representative Mr K Hoddinott. In attendance as an objector was Mr David Linnell on behalf of the Loughton Residents Association.

(a)        The Application before the Sub-Committee

The Legal Officer outlined the application for the White Bull, 2 Centric Parade, Loughton for a variation of an existing Premises Licence. The applicant was requesting the addition of live music and the extension of time to various activities including opening times and the sale of alcohol. They would also like the removal of the condition 1 and 2 of Annex II of their existing licence.

A number of objections had been received from local residents, the Loughton Residents Association and Loughton Town Council.

Essex Police have agreed new conditions with the applicant and so have the Council’s Environmental Health and Neighbourhood team.

(b)       Presentation of the Applicant’s Case

Mr Hoddinott started  by saying that the establishment was now know as ‘Whites’ and had originally been granted their licence under “grandfather rights”. He outlined their case saying that along with varying their hours and adding live music, they wanted to remove the now outdated conditions listed in Annex II of their existing licence.

(c)        Questions from the Sub-Committee

The Sub-committee had no questions for the applicant.

(d)       Questions from the Objector

Mr Linnell asked what the upstairs/downstairs split was for people attending the club. He was told that there was no particular split in force now that they had reconfigured their bar area.

Mr Linnell asked how many would be seated and was told it would be 45 people downstairs.

Mr Linnell then commented that there had been a number of disturbances; could he comment on what happened and on the extended opening hours. Mr Hoddinott replied that the problems seemed more applicable to the High Road and not to this premises. We will not have any Music after 01.30 hours. We also use toughened glass and have door staff who do not allow drink to be taken off the premises. We are expensive and do not get loutish customers. The disturbances were general comments and not specific to our establishment.

Ms Glasscock, the Licensing Enforcement Officer, noted that the incident had not been attributed to ‘Whites’ at all.

Mr Linnell then pointed out the email from Mr Crouch about a recent fight outside the premises. Ms Glasscock replied that this was the first time that Licensing Officers had been informed of this and therefore officers could not establish what had happened.

(e)       Presentation of the Objector’s Case

Mr Linnell said that there were a number of late night venues, the question here was of a cumulative affect. This is a residential area. With 210 people coming out at 2am would cause a lot  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.