Agenda item

The licensing officer presented their report.  Members had questions for the licensing officer.

The applicant and their legal representative addressed the sub-committee.  Members had questions for the applicant and their representative.

The licensing officer representing the council as a responsible authority addressed the sub-committee.  Members had questions for the licensing officer.

Both parties were given an opportunity for summing up.

The meeting went into closed session at 12.54pm. Prior to going into closed session the chair informed the parties that they would be informed of the full decision in writing.

The meeting resumed at 2.30pm.  The chair did not read out the decision as none of the parties were present.

RESOLVED:

That the application made by Sama Group Ltd for a premises licence to be granted under the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of the premises known as Sama, Unit C, 242 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 9UF is granted as follows:

Conditions

The operation of the premises under the licence shall be subject to relevant mandatory conditions, conditions derived from the operation schedule highlighted in Section M of the application form and the conditions conciliated with the responsible authorities during the conciliation process and the following additional conditions agreed by the sub-committee:

1.  That a minimum of two SIA registered door supervisors will be employed at the entrance of the premises to monitor admissions to and departures from the premises from 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays until close. At least one SIA door supervisor shall be female. At all other times the requirement for SIA supervisors shall be risk assessed by the premises licence holder. SIA registered door supervisors will be employed at other key internal management control points as necessary for the purposes of security, protection, screening and dealing with conflict.

2.  There shall be no more than 300 persons, excluding staff, on the premises at any one time.

3.  The dispersal policy as set out in the Operational Management Schedule shall be available / be accessible at the premises at all times that the premises are in use in accordance with this licence and shall be made available to officers of the council, police or fire brigade on request.

Reasons

The reasons for the decision are as follows:

The licensing sub-committee heard from the applicant’s representative who was able to explain the extensive and comprehensive suite of conditions which had been conciliated with the responsible authorities before the meeting.  In addressing the cumulative impact policy, they provided a number of reasons why these premises were deemed to be exceptional.  These included the fact that the premises was situated on a self contained private road, a considerable distance from the closest residential properties.  It was noted that no local residents had objected to the application.

Some considerable time was spent in explaining the operational management statement and using it to address the licensing objectives and the council’s own licensing policy. 

The licensing sub-committee noted that the Metropolitan Police Service, the environmental protection team and the public health authority had all conciliated with the applicant prior to the meeting.

The sub-committee heard from the licensing officer representing the council as a responsible authority who advised that the premises were in a saturation zone but was of the opinion that the conditions agreed with the other responsible authorities went some way in addressing the cumulative impact policy.  She proposed three further conditions (listed above) that were agreed by the applicant, which she felt would assist the premises in meeting the necessary exceptional criteria for such a premises in the saturation zone.

The licensing sub-committee noted the written representation from the local ward councillor, objecting to the application

The licensing sub-committee considered all of the oral and written representations before it and were satisfied that this particular application was exceptional and therefore could be granted.  The sub-committee were reassured by the extensive suite of conditions put forward by the applicant and felt that the concerns of the local ward councillor had been adequately addressed.

In reaching this decision the sub-committee had regard to all the relevant considerations and the four licensing objectives and considered that this decision was appropriate and proportionate.

Appeal rights

The applicant may appeal against any decision:

a)  To impose conditions on the licence

b)  To exclude a licensable activity or refuse to specify a person as premises supervisor.

Any person who made relevant representations in relation to the application who desire to contend that:

a)  The  licence ought not to be been granted; or

b)  That on granting the licence, the licensing authority ought to have imposed different or additional conditions to the licence, or ought to have modified them in a different way

may appeal against the decision.

Any appeal must be made to the Magistrates’ Court for the area in which the premises are situated. Any appeal must be commenced by notice of appeal given by the appellant to the justices’ clerk for the Magistrates’ Court within the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which the appellant was notified by the licensing authority of the decision appealed against.