Agenda and minutes

The Chairman for this meeting, Councillor George Savva, welcomed all those present, introduced the Members, and explained the order of the meeting.

Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary, other pecuniary or non pecuniary interests relating to items on the agenda.

NOTED that there were no declarations of interest in respect of any of the items on the agenda.

Application for a new club premises certificate.

RECEIVED application made by Palms of Enfield for the club premises known as and situated at Palms of Enfield, 467 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 for a new Club Premises Certificate.

NOTED

1.    The opening statement of Mark Galvayne, Principal Licensing Officer, including the following points:

a.  This was an application by Palms of Enfield for a new Club Premises Certificate.

b.  The premises was not currently authorised to provide any licensable activities under the Licensing Act 2003.

c.  The application was subject to representations from the Licensing Authority and the Metropolitan Police.

d.  Subsequent to publication of the agenda there was nothing further to report.

2.    The opening statement of Mr Menzies, legal representative on behalf of the Licensing Authority, including the following points:

a.  He was speaking on behalf of Trading Standards Service, who opposed the application in its entirety, on grounds of prevention of crime and disorder, and secondly the grounds of prevention of public nuisance.

b.  The Licensing Authority had substantial concerns about links between the proposed undertaking and the previous undertaking, Big Bluff, which operated at the same premises and which was subject to ongoing prosecution proceedings in relation to offences under the Licensing Act 2003, Gambling Act 2005 and Proceeds of Crime Act.

c.  The Licensing Authority had concerns that there were links as follows:

(i) The Director of Palms of Enfield, Mr Christakis Nicholson, was a card room manager at the previous Big Bluff club.

(ii)  Mr Ahmet Melin was a defendant in the ongoing criminal proceedings in respect of the Big Bluff club and also had a connection with the present undertaking. The document included on page 61 of the agenda pack showed the assignment of the lease of the premises between parities, from Mr Melin as tenant to Palms of Enfield Limited, with Mr Melin as guarantor. The Licensing Authority had concerns about this and why Mr Melin was still acting as guarantor. There was still a close connection between the old and new undertaking.

(iii) Mr Andy Moyssi previously worked at Big Bluff club as a card room manager. When Police attended the premises on 14/9/13 Mr Moyssi was present and explained that he was keeping the place “ticking over”. When representatives of Trading Standards attended in October, Mr Moyssi was also present at the premises.

d.  There were therefore close links between the personalities involved in the undertakings.

e.  There was no suggestion that a club was operating in any meaningful capacity at present. Police saw only eight people present at the September visit and Council officers reported few people present in October. Without the ability to allow poker to be played there was little happening at the premises. It was therefore difficult to accept what the application stated in respect of poker.

f.  A response from the applicant’s solicitor in respect of proposed conditions was highlighted on page 40. The proposed Condition 16 that ‘Poker shall not be advertised at the premises or take place  ...  view the full minutes text for item 793.