Agenda and minutes

1.         This meeting is to be webcast. Participants are reminded of the need to activate their microphones before speaking.

2.         The Chairman will read the following announcement:

“I would like to remind everyone present that this meeting will be broadcast live to the internet (or filmed) and will be capable of repeated viewing (or another use by such third parties).

If you are seated in the lower public seating area it is likely that the recording cameras will capture your image and this will result in the possibility that your image will become part of the broadcast.

This may infringe your human and data protection rights and if you wish to avoid this you should move to the upper public gallery.”

The Chairman made a short address to remind everyone present that the meeting would be recorded and would be capable of repeated viewing on the internet, which could infringe their human and data protection rights.

To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

(a)        Pursuant to the Council’s Member Code of Conduct, Cllr T Matthews declared a personal interest in item 5 of the agenda – Application for a new Premises Licence at The Palace Banqueting Suite, Brooker Road, Waltham Abbey – by virtue of being a Waltham Abbey Town Councillor when the lease was awarded to the applicant. The Councillor had determined that as he had taken no part in the negotiations with the applicant for the lease, his interest was non-pecuniary and he would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application.

To note the adopted procedure for the conduct of business by the Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee noted the agreed procedure for the conduct of business and the Terms of Reference.

The three Councillors that presided over this application were Cllrs R Morgan (Chairman), P Keska and D Stocker. In attendance for the application were Mr R Sutherland (Authorised Agent), Mr H Kartal (Applicant & Director) and Ms Z Kartal (Director). In attendance representing the responsible authorities were Mr R McManus and Ms K Dott (Essex Police), and Ms N Glasscock (Environmental Enforcement). The following residents were also in attendance: Mr C Withers; Ms J Brown (nominated to speak on behalf of Ms A Dodge); and Ms W Wright.

The Sub-Committee received a report on the application for a new Premises Licence at The Banqueting Suite in Town Mead, Brooker Road, Waltham Abbey. The Licensing Team Manager reported that the licensing hours requested by the premises had been reduced since the application had been made, and that conditions had been agreed with both Essex Police and the Council’s Community Resilience Team.

The Sub-Committee noted all of the submissions and representations, both written and oral, made in relation to this application. The Sub-Committee was informed that the venue would only be used for pre-booked events, customers attending the events would not be permitted to take any food or drink outside the premises, and there was no intention to have any firework displays as part of the events at the venue. The Sub-Committee was advised by the Principal Litigation Lawyer that any potential parking issues at the premises were not part of the Licensing process.

The Sub-Committee retired to consider the case accompanied by the Team Manager for Democratic & Electoral Services and the Principal Litigation Lawyer. No issues of law or policy arose during the Sub-Committee’s deliberations, and therefore the Officers were not required to offer advice. The Sub-Committee returned to inform the participants of its decision. All participants were reminded of their right of appeal to a Magistrates Court within 21 days of this decision, and the review mechanism under the Licensing Act 2003 should any future issues occur at the premises in connection with the four licensing objectives.

            Resolved:

(1)        That the Premises Licence for the Palace Banqueting Suite at Town Mead, Brooker Road in Waltham Abbey be granted  for the Opening Hours and Supply of Alcohol between 11.00am and 12.30am Monday to Sunday, the provision of Live and Recorded Music and the Provision of Performance of Dance between 11.00pm and 12.30pm Monday to Sunday, and subject to the following conditions which were considered reasonable and proportionate and in the public interest for the promotion of the four licensing objectives:

(a)        the conditions set out within the Operating Schedule on pages 20 – 32 of the agenda; and

(b)        those conditions agreed with Essex Police and the Epping Forest District Council Community Resilience Team in so far as they add to or supersede the applicant’s conditions.