Agenda item

Licensing Committee 18 June 2020 – Job Centre 120-122 Deptford High Street SE8 4NS

In the matter of the application for the variation of a Premises Licence, the Committee has considered the relevant representations made.

The Committee has made the following determination:

With a view to ensuring the promotion of the licensing objectives, in accordance with the provisions of the statutory guidance and the principles of our licensing policy, the application for the variation of a premises licence was GRANTED as follows:

Provision of regulated entertainment (Recorded Music)

10:00 – 01:00 Friday to Saturday

Alcohol for consumption ON and OFF the Premises

10:00 – 01:00 Friday to Saturday  

Late Night Refreshment

23:00 – 01:30 Friday to Saturday

and an additional 2 hours on New Year’s Eve.

In coming to a determination the Committee considered the following matters;

1.    The Committee noted the representation made by the applicant. The Job Centre has been well run over the last 5 years. Following advice from the Police and as a result of the success of this business, an application for an extension of hours had been made.

2.    The Committee noted that the Job Centre had worked with the local authority and the Police on this application and they did not have an objection to the extension of hours.

3.    The Committee noted that the premises agreed with the proposed conditions; security on a Friday and Saturday would help to control any noise.

4.    The Committee considered the representation made on behalf of the Deptford Society. The current licensee is a responsible operator and the premises is well managed.

5.    The Committee noted the representation that there are a large number of residential units near to the premises and residents could be affected, if the hours of operation are extended.

6.    The Committee noted that the area is used on market days and the set- up commences at 6am on Friday and Saturday. On these days, residents would only have 4 ½ hours of undisturbed sleep. This would affect residents who go to work on a Friday morning.

7    The Committee noted the wider concerns, that over recent years, there has been a move to grant a growing number of late night licences for premises on the high street. The fundamental living conditions of residents in the high street is being eroded.

8.   Representations were not received from any responsible authorities.

9.   The Committee noted that the applicant agreed to the conditions which had been recommended by the Police and licensing officers, and agreed that granting the application, subject to these conditions, would promote the four licensing objectives.

CONDITIONS FOR THE JOB CENTRE, 120-122 DEPTFORD HIGH STREET SE8 4NS

1.    A minimum of 1 SIA registered door staff, to be employed on every Friday and Saturday evening from 21:00hrs and to remain in place until 30mins passed closing time. This must also include New Year’s Eve, as this is expected to be a peak time.

2.    A record of the Door staff name and SIA badge number and hours of duties, to be kept on record with the management and to be available to Police and Local Authority upon request, along with any incident report made by SIA staff, of any incidents they dealt with during the shift.

3.    No customers will be allowed to take drinks outside, including the outside terrace areas, after 2200hrs. 

4.    After 2200hrs, no more than 6 customers to be allowed into each outside area of the premises to smoke.

4.1      The Chair welcomed all parties to the remote meeting of the Licensing Committee. She invited Ms Hooper to introduce the application.

            Licensing Officer   

4.2      Ms Hooper said that members were being asked to consider an application for the variation of a premises licence for Job Centre 120-122 Deptford High Street SE8 4NS. She outlined the application and said that representations had been received from three interested parties on the grounds of public nuisance. Conditions had been agreed between the Police, Crime and Enforcement Officers and the applicant in order to promote the four licensing objectives. No objection had been received from any responsible authorities. She outlined the options open to members of the Committee when making their decision.

            Applicant

4.3      Mr Alderman said that the Job Centre has been well run over the last 5 years. Following advice from the Police and as a result of the success of this business, an application for an extension of hours had been made.

4.4      The application is reasonable and all conditions suggested by relevant authorities had been agreed. There were concerns about noise but security on a Friday and Saturday at the premises would help to control this and the number of smokers would be limited.

            Representation

4.5      Mr Richardson made the following points

·         The current licensee has a current track record as a responsible operator and his business is welcomed on the high street.

·         There are residential dwellings surrounding the premises.

·         The area of the high street near the premises, is used on market days from 6am on Friday and Saturday. If a licence is granted until 1.30am residents would only have 4 ½ hours undisturbed sleep on a work day.

·         The conditions do not require door staff to be hired. If staff were hired, it would ensure that taking drinks outside after restricted hours, limiting the number of smokers and dispersal of customers at the end of the night would be well managed.

4.6      Mr Richardson wanted to raise the wider concern, that over recent years, there has been a move to grant a growing number of late night licences for premises on the high street. The fundamental living conditions of residents in the high street is being eroded. In addition, the current draft provisions of Lewisham’s licensing policy classifying the various districts in the borough for operating hours, Deptford High Street is identified as a district hub, the same category as New Cross, Forest Hill, and Blackheath, giving 1am as the preferred latest closing time.  Whereas Brockley and Hither Green are classified as a local hub with a preferred closing time of midnight. Deptford High Street has a high density of homes and negligible road traffic compared to these areas. There are low levels of traffic in the evening and ambient noise.

4.7      The Chair said that the meeting would now go into closed session. All parties would be advised of the decision within 5 working days. She thanked the applicants for attending the meeting.