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Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Rooms 18.01 & 18.03, 18th Floor, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP. View directions

Contact: Kisi Smith-Charlemagne, Senior Committee and Governance Officer  Email:  kscharlemagne@westminster.gov.uk Tel: 020 7641 2783

Items
No. Item

1.

Membership

To report any changes to the membership.

2.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of the existence and nature of any pecuniary interests or any other significant interest in matters on this agenda.

1.

The Admiral Duncan Public House, 54 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 4UD pdf icon PDF 1 MB

App

No

Ward /

Cumulative Impact Area

Site Name and Address

Application

Licensing Reference Number

1.

West End Ward /

West End Cumulative Impact Area

The Admiral Duncan Public House, 54 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 4UD

New Premises Licence

19/09810/LIPN

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE No. 1

Thursday 24th October 2019

 

Membership:              Councillor Heather Acton (Chairman) and Councillor Louise Hyams

 

Legal Adviser:             Horatio Chance

Policy Officer:              Aaron Hardy

Committee Officer:      Andrew Palmer

Presenting Officer:      Michelle Steward

 

Relevant Representations:         Environmental Health, the Metropolitan Police, the Licensing Authority and the Soho Society.

 

Present: Clare Eames and Helen Ward (Poppleston Allen – representing the Applicant), Paul Wright (Applicant - Director of Operational Licensing, Stonegate Pub Company Limited), James Beaumont (Area Manager, Stonegate Pub Company Limited), Karl Nixon (Designated Premises Supervisor, Stonegate Pub Company Limited), Richard Sharland (Acoustics Expert), Dave Nevitt (Environmental Health), PC Bryan Lewis (Metropolitan Police), Karyn Abbott (Licensing Authority), Richard Brown (Westminster Citizen’s Advice Bureau, on behalf of the Soho Society), Jane Doyle (Soho Society) and Alison Henry (Soho Society).

 

The Admiral Duncan Public House, 54 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 4UD (The Premises”)

19/09810/LIPN

 

1.

Late Night Refreshment (Indoors)

 

Monday to Saturday: 23:00 to 03:00

 

Seasonal variations/ Non-standard timings:

 

The terminal hour to be 03:00 hours the following day on Bank Holiday Sundays, New Year’s Eve and Christmas Eve.

 

An additional hour to the terminal hour on the day that British Summertime commences.

 

 

Amendments to application advised at hearing:

 

None.

 

 

Decision (including reasons if different from those set out in report):

 

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a new premises licence for the Admiral Duncan public house, which currently had the benefit of a premises licence for core hours that had been granted in 2005. The new application sought to provide late night refreshment, regulated entertainment and the sale of alcohol ‘on’ and ‘off’ the premises Monday to Saturday between 10:00 and 03:00; and on Sunday between 12:00 and 22:30. The application also sought the British summertime additional hour; with Bank Holiday Sundays, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve until 03:00. The Sub-Committee noted that the premises were situated in the West End Cumulative Impact Area (CIA).

 

Clare Eames addressed the Sub-Committee of behalf of the applicant who considered that the application would be an exception to cumulative impact under Policy CB2, as the sale of alcohol would be ancillary to the performance of cabaret which was the primary purpose of the Premises. The applicant also suggested that the operation of the Premises was similar to karaoke venues in Westminster, which had been regarded as exceptions to Policy. If the application were to be granted, an acoustic lobby to reduce possible noise nuisance would be constructed as part of a general refresh investment of £70,000 and additional floor staff would be provided at weekends. The applicant confirmed that cabaret events were not ticketed.

 

Ms Eames commented on the report of the London Night Time Commission, which had considered the development of business, the night time economy and entertainment premises in Westminster. Ms Eames stated that the Admiral Gordon was a dedicated LGBT+ cabaret venue and one of the top drag clubs in London. She considered that the Admiral Gordon was a cultural institution which was uniquely based because of its future and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

1 Irving Street, London, WC2H 7AT pdf icon PDF 613 KB

App

No

Ward /

Cumulative Impact Area

Site Name and Address

Application

Licensing Reference Number

2.

St James’s Ward /

West End Cumulative Impact Area

1 Irving Street, London, WC2H 7AT

New Premises Licence

19/08807/LIPN

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

This application was withdrawn

3.

McDonald's, Communications House, Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LT pdf icon PDF 6 MB

App

No

Ward /

Cumulative Impact Area

Site Name and Address

Application

Licensing Reference Number

3.

St James’s  Ward /

West End Cumulative Impact Area

McDonald's, Communications House, Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LT

Variation of Premises Licence

19/10353/LIPV

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE No.1

Thursday 24th October 2019

 

Membership:              Councillor Heather Acton (Chairman) and Councillor Karen Scarborough.

 

Legal Adviser:             Horatio Chance

Policy Officer:              Aaron Hardy

Committee Officer:      Andrew Palmer

Presenting Officer:      Michelle Steward

 

Relevant Representations:         Environmental Health, the Metropolitan Police.      the Licensing Service and Councillor Louise      Hyams (West End Ward Councillor).

 

Present:          Leo Charalambides (Barrister – representing the Applicant), Claude Abi-Gerges (Applicant – Director of Franchising), Lloyd Evans (Applicant - Safety, Security & Licensing Manager), Rico Pieri (Heart of London Business Alliance – Area Manager for Leicester Square & Piccadilly Circus), PC Bryan Lewis (Metropolitan Police), PC Lara Sharp (Metropolitan Police), Karyn Abbott (Licensing Authority) and Councillor Louise Hyams (West End Ward Councillor).

 

Councillor Karen Scarborough declared a non-prejudicial personal interest in that she was a Trustee of the Westminster Youth Foundation.

 

 

McDonald’s, Communication House, 48 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LT (“The Premises”)

19/10353/LIPV

 

1.

Late Night Refreshment – Indoors and Outdoors

 

Current:

 

Monday to Saturday: 23:00 to 00:00

 

Proposed:

 

Monday to Sunday: 23:00 to 02:00

Seasonal variations/ Non-standard timings:

 

Current: One additional hour to standard timings on the day British Summertime commences.

 

No change proposed.

 

 

Amendments to application advised at hearing:

 

None.

 

Decision (including reasons if different from those set out in report):

 

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a variation of a premises licence from Capital Arches Ltd, for a premises which operated as a McDonald’s fast food franchise offering hot food and non-alcoholic beverages. The Premises currently had a licence which allowed for the provision of late night refreshment, and the variation sought to extend the opening hours and provision of late night refreshment on Mondays to Sundays from 23:00 to 03:00, to 23:00 to 05:00. The Sub-Committee noted that the Premises were situated in the West End Cumulative Impact Area.

 

The Sub-Committee heard from Leo Charalambides (Barrister – representing the Applicant), who considered that the proposal would be an exception to cumulative impact policy, on the grounds that the Application and management and operation of the Premises were exceptional. He also considered that the Application was exceptional as there were no residential properties situated in the local area; and as the Application had received widespread support which had included a local Ward Member. Mr Charalambides stated that the Applicant recognised that being a quick service restaurant could have consequences for the local community, but had been able to establish protocols to deal with litter and recycling and to keep the area clean and clear. The Applicant was aware that police resources had reduced, so had introduced a joint initiative with the local business community to extend the provision of ‘My Local Bobby’ private security staff to 05:00.  Mr Charalambides stated that the business community did not seek to replace Police Officers, but to engage a dedicated security team which would add to existing resources and actively reduce crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in the area.

     

Discussions to base the proposed piloting of the Soho Angels scheme in Leicester Square at McDonalds were ongoing, and Mr Charalambides commented that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Pimlico Academy, Lupus Street, London, SW1V 3AT pdf icon PDF 5 MB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE No.1

Thursday 24th October 2019

 

Membership:              Councillor Heather Acton (Chairman) and Councillor Louise Hyams and Councillor Karen Scarborough.

 

Legal Adviser:             Horatio Chance

Policy Officer:              Aaron Hardy

Committee Officer:      Andrew Palmer

Presenting Officer:      Michelle Steward

 

Relevant Representations:         Environmental Health.

 

Present: David Parsons (Applicant) and Dave Nevitt (Environmental Health).

 

 

 

Pimlico Academy, Lupus Street, London SW1V 3AT  (“the Premises”)

19/13222/LITENN

 

Proposed licensable activities: Regulated Entertainment.

 

Times during the proposed event period when it is proposed to carry on licensable activities: 00:01 on 1st January 2020 to 01:30 on 1st January 2020.

 

 

Decision (including reasons if different from those set out in report):

 

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a Temporary Event Notice for a vintage swing dance for 150 attendees (plus staff) from 00:01 on 31 December 2019 until 01:30 on 1 January 2020. The event was for a mature group of dance enthusiasts who wished to celebrate the New Year, and would take place in the basement auditorium at Pimlico Academy which was hired out when the school was not in use. The venue had an electrically operated inner door in the reception area that was controlled by the front-of-house staff. There would be a DJ playing music from the 1930’s to 1940’s, plus a small live band that was mainly acoustic. The Sub-Committee was informed that the Applicant had recently been served with a Section 80 Noise Abatement Notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 following an event where statutory noise nuisance had been witnessed. No conditions or undertakings had been offered to address the licensing objectives.

 

The Sub-Committee heard from Dave Nevitt (Environmental Health) who had objected on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance. It was stated that the Section 80 Abatement Notice had led to the current Application to be more closely scrutinised, and   Environmental Health suggested a number of undertakings that would promote the licensing objectives and reduce the risk of nuisance, should the Sub-Committee be minded to grant the application:

·       external doors and windows to be kept closed during the provision of regulated entertainment;

·       access and egress of patrons including those wishing to smoke to be by the security controlled access;

·       regulated entertainment to cease at 01:10 on 1 January 2020; and

·       no entry to the premises after 23:30 on 31 January 2019.

 

Mr Nevitt acknowledged that the Application was for an event on New Year’s Eve, when it would be reasonably unlikely to cause a problem.

 

The Sub-Committee heard from David Parsons (Applicant). Mr Parsons understood that the noise nuisance had occurred at an event held during the summer, when the doors to the Premises had been left open. Mr Parsons agreed that the doors and windows to the Premises would remain closed during the event on New Year’s Eve, when the weather would be colder. Mr Nevitt confirmed that if the Application were to be granted, the City Council’s Noise Team would be notified of the Temporary Event Notice and boundaries that had been set.

 

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.