Agenda item

Application for a new premises licence.

RECEIVED the application made by Mr Ali Ekber Sahin for the premises situated at Coffee Break Express Ltd, 792 Green Lanes, London, N21 2SH for a new Premises Licence.

NOTED

1.    The introductory statement of Ellie Green, Principal Licensing Officer, including:

a.    This application was for a new premises licence for Coffee Break Express Limited, by Mr Ali Ekber Sahin.

b.    The premises was a coffee shop at the end of a commercial parade, but there were residential roads surrounding it.

c.    The application sought opening hours of 6:30am to 11:00pm daily, and alcohol on supplies 11:00am to 10:30pm.

d.    Mr Sahin would also be the designated premises supervisor.

e.    Interested party IP2 was present at this hearing, and another local resident referred to as IP3 was expected but had not arrived. Both these interested parties were against the grant of the application. Their written representations were included in the report as Annex 2 and 3. The objections were based on all four of the licensing objectives.

f.     A written response from the applicant was included in the report as Annex 4.

g.    The Police and the Licensing Authority had originally sought representations in respect of modification of conditions. Those conditions sought were subsequently agreed by the applicant and the representations were withdrawn. The agreed conditions were set out in Annex 5.

2.    The statement of Mrs Margaret Michael (IP2), including:

a.    She had not found out about this application until one day before the consultation was ending, and quickly sent an email to Licensing Team.

b.    She did not consider there was any reason for a coffee shop to sell alcohol, or to open until 11:00pm.

c.    There were already five pubs in the vicinity, including her own pub On Broadway, and the Three Wishes.

3.    Mrs Michael responded to questions as follows:

a.    In response to the Chair’s queries regarding her concerns, Mrs Michael advised that the premises had been very successful selling food and coffee, but now suddenly wanted to sell alcohol and to play live music. The Three Wishes pub was already a live music venue every weekend. Coffee Break Express was not even a restaurant, and this application did not seem to fit in with this premises. She had also spoken to people who lived nearer to the premises, including in the new build flats opposite, and they were shocked and appalled at the proposed opening hours and provision of music. If she had been aware of the application earlier she could have brought it to more people’s attention. There did not appear to be much awareness of the application locally. The notice was not in a position where people passed by and could not easily be read as it was blocked by tables and chairs.

b.    Ellie Green confirmed that the Licensing Authority were satisfied that the application had been dealt with in accordance with the regulations, including 28 days’ consultation and display of blue notices as required. There was no requirement to write to local residents. She also confirmed that legislation did not require an application for live music as this was permitted for any premises that provided alcohol.

4.    The statement of Ms Lale Karakus on behalf of the applicant, including:

a.    In respect of the application notices, three had been displayed in total, including one on the premises frontage. These were all clear and in size 16 font. Notification was also printed in the local newspaper. Anyone with concerns were free to make those known.

b.    Music would be played at a very low volume and would only be heard by people dining in the café. Her client was not trying to convert the venue into a pub.

5.    Ms Karakus and Mr Sahin responded to questions as follows:

a.    In response to Mrs Michael’s further queries regarding the difficulty of passers by to easily see the application notices, it was confirmed that the notices had been displayed on both sides of the shop’s windows and at the entrance.

b.    In response to the Chair’s queries, it was confirmed that the applicant accepted all the proposed conditions; that alcohol would only be served to customers seated and having a meal purchased at the premises; and that CCTV requirements would be met.

c.    In response to the Chair’s question regarding the experience of the applicant, it was confirmed this was his first business, but that he had been running it for four years.

d.    In response to Councillor Aramaz’s queries, it was confirmed that the venue had closed previously at 18:30 / 19:00 and had not had any live music before, but had a licence for music on the radio. This request for later hours, sale of alcohol and for background music resulted mainly from customer demands.

6.     The closing statement of Ellie Green, Principal Licensing Officer, including:

a.    Having heard all the representations, it was for the Licensing Sub Committee to take such steps as it considered appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives. The potential steps were set out in para 7 of the officers’ report.

b.    Relevant law, guidance and policies were set out in para 5 of the officers’ report.

RESOLVED that

1.         In accordance with the principles of Section 100(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for this item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Panel retired, with the legal representative and committee administrator, to consider the application further and then the meeting reconvened in public.

2.         The Chairman made the following statement:

“The Licensing Sub Committee (LSC), having listened to and read the objections by residents and local businesses, have decided to agree to this application with added conditions as outlined in Annex 5.

The LSC is content that this application with added conditions fulfils the Council’s aims and objectives.”

3.         The Licensing Sub-Committee resolved that the application be granted in full as follows:

(i)            Hours the premises are open to the public: from 06:30 to 23:00 daily.

(ii)          Supply of alcohol (on supplies only): from 11:00 to 22:30.

Conditions in accordance with Annex 5.