Agenda item

In the matter of the application for a new 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 a new premises licence was GRANTED subject to the following conditions being added to the premises licence.

1.         The premises shall install and maintain a comprehensive CCTV system. All entry and exit points will be covered enabling frontal identification of every person entering in any light condition. The CCTV system shall continually record whilst the premises is open for licensable activities and during all times when customers remain on the premises. All recordings shall be stored for a minimum period of 31 days with date and time stamping. Recordings shall be made available upon the request of Police or authorized officer throughout the preceding 31-day period, such copies shall in any event be provided within forty-eight (48) hours.

2.         A staff member from the premises who is conversant with the operation of the CCTV system shall be on the premises at all times when the premises are open to the public. This staff member must be able to show a Local Authority or Police Officer recent data or footage when requested.

3.         The CCTV system must cover the area used for smoking and the area used for queue`s.

4.         There shall be a personal licence holder that must be employed by the premises on duty on the premises at all times when the premises are conducting licensable activities after 20:00hrs.

5.         The premises shall prominently display signage at all entrances informing customers:-

·           All persons entering this premises maybe liable to be searched. Agreement to search is a condition of entry. If persons do not consent entry will be refused

·           Police may be called if drugs or weapons are found.

·           The premises has a zero tolerance on drugs

·           CCTV is in operation throughout these premises and is made available to the police.

·           Any person found carrying weapons or illegal drugs will be permanently excluded and the police will be informed.

·           Management reserve the right to refuse entry.

6.         When operating as a restaurant:

A minimum of one (1) SIA registered door supervisor must be on duty when the premises is conducting licensable activity after midnight. When open past midnight the door supervisors must be on duty from 2200hrs until 30 minutes after closing.

7.         When holding a private event:

A minimum of two (2) SIA registered door staff, of which one (1) must be female  must be on duty when the premises is conducting licensable activity whilst holding a private party or other music / DJ event which finishes after midnight. When holding such events the door supervisors must be on duty from 2200hrs until 30 minutes after closing. When such events are taking place all customers including dj`s will be searched as a condition of entry.

8.         A documented disposal policy must be in place and reviewed annually with the metropolitan police/local authority.

9.         A register of security personnel employed on the premises shall be maintained in a legible format and made available to Police or Local Authority Officers on request. The register should be completed by the DPS/Duty Manager at the commencement of work by each member of security staff and details recorded should include:

·         Full name

·         Badge number

·         Time of commencement of duties

·         Security Operative to sign their name against these details

10.       At the commencement of work, security personnel should ensure that they are recorded on the CCTV system and that a clear head and shoulders image showing their face clear of any hat, glasses or other obstruction is recorded.

11.       When door supervisors are employed all reasonable steps must be made to encourage onward journeys ensure the customers of the premises do not loiter outside. This must be included in the dispersal policy.

12.       All staff engaged outside the entrance to the premises, or supervising or controlling queues shall wear high visibility jackets or vest

13.       The designated queuing area shall be enclosed within appropriate barriers to ensure that the footway is kept clear when necessary.

14.       Notices shall be prominently displayed at all exits requesting patrons to respect the needs of local residents and businesses and leave the area quietly.

15.       Patrons permitted to temporarily leave and then re-enter the premises e.g. to smoke shall not be permitted to take drinks or drink containers with them.

16.       Notices shall be displayed in an area used for smoking requesting patrons to respect the needs of local residents use the area quietly.

17.       When holding a private party or other music / DJ event a currently qualified first aider must be employed on the premises at all times that the premises are open to the public. The venue will also provide first aid facilities commensurate with the type of event and customers expected.

18.       An incident log shall be kept at the premises, and made available on request to an authorised Local Authority or Police Officer, which will record the following:

a)    All crimes reported to the venue

b)    All ejections of patrons

c)    Any complaints received

d)    Any incidents of disorder

e)    All seizure of drugs or offensive weapons

f)     Any faults in the CCTV system, searching or scanning equipment

g)    Any refusal of the sale of alcohol

h)   Any visit by a relevant authority or emergency service

19.      A proof of age scheme, such as Challenge 25, shall be operated at the premises where the only acceptable forms of identification are (recognized photographic identification cards, such as a driving license or passport / Holographical marked PASS scheme identification cards).

20.      The licence holder shall enter in to an agreement with a hackney carriage and/or private carriage firm to provide transport for customers, with contact numbers made readily available to customers who will be encouraged to use such services.

21.      All staff to undergo Licensing training which will be documented and provided to police / licensing authority on request. This training is to be refreshed every 12 months. All new staff must undergo this training before being allowed to sell alcohol.

22.      The premises license holder shall ensure all persons who work on the premises have provided satisfactory proof of identification and the right to work in the UK.

23.      All documents of members of staff will be retained for a period of 12 months post termination of employment and will be made available to the police, immigration and/or Licensing officers upon reasonable request.

24.      As soon as possible, and in any event within 1 month from the grant of this license, the premises shall join The Safer London Business Partnership approved by the police, and local radio scheme if available.

25.      A zero tolerance to illegal drugs shall be operated. Any person found in possession of illegal drugs, or who is witnessed offering illegal drugs or asking other  for illegal drugs, will be ejected (or refused entry) and permanently banned from future entry to the premises.

26.      The Premises Licence Holder will allow uniformed Police to periodically attend the premises upon prior agreement with the Premises Licence Holder in order to carry out advance drug searching techniques, including (but not limited to) requiring customers to take part in the drug analyser testing as a condition of entry, and passive drug dog sweeps of the premises and queue.

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

1.    The Committee considered the representation made by the applicant. The premises will be run as an African restaurant, alcohol will be served only with a meal and there will not be any off sales of alcohol.

2.   The Committee noted that there will not be any live music just background music. The applicant has accepted all the conditions recommended by the Police and the licensing team.         

3.   The Committee noted that objectors were not representation at the meeting.

4.   The Committee considered that the granting of the new premises licence would uphold the four licensing objectives.

4.1      The Chair welcomed all parties to the meeting and introductions were made. She then invited Ms Spall to introduce the application.

            Licensing Officer   

4.2      Ms Spall said that members were being asked to consider an application for a review of a premises licence for J6 Restaurant 199-201 Lewisham Way SE4 1UY. Representations have been received from eleven residents who live in close proximity to the premises. The objections were being sought under perceived grounds of public nuisance, crime and disorder, and public safety. The applicant was present but there were no objectors at the meeting. The objections that were received, were all received on exactly the same day and it was also the last day for representations.

            Representation

4.3      Mr Owoade said that the premises will be run as an African Restaurant, alcohol will be served only with a meal and there will not be any off sales of alcohol. There will not be any live music on the premises just background music.

4.4      Councillor Howard asked whether the premises is open to the public yet. Mr Owoade said that it was open on 25 August 2018. The premises is operating under Temporary Event Notices.

4.5      P.C Gerry said that there are two further conditions that Police posed to the applicant. One was with regard to zero tolerance of drugs and the other was with regard to police being allowed to use drug techniques to search the premises. The applicant agreed to these conditions.

4.6      Members of the Committee then withdrew to make their decision. When they           returned it was:

RESOLVED that the Premises Licence be granted with all the added conditions.

4.7      Ms Spall said that any registered party and the applicant may appeal against this decision to the Magistrates Court within 21 days from the date of the decision letter which would be sent out within 5 days of the meeting.