Agenda and minutes

Under the terms of reference for the Licensing Committee each Sub-Committee is required to elect a Chairman on an ad hoc basis for the duration of the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with the Terms of Reference for the Licensing Committee, Councillor R Morgan be elected Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

(Assistant to the Chief Executive) To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made pursuant to the Member’s Code of

Conduct.

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

To consider the attached report and representations.

The members who heard this application were Councillors Mrs R Gadsby, R Morgan and Mrs P Smith.

The Chairman welcomed the participants and introduced the members and officers present, and then requested that the participants introduced themselves to the Sub-Committee.

In attendance on behalf of the application were Mr Kounnis, the applicant and his solicitor Mr A Grimsby.

Representing the Loughton Residents Association was Mr D Linnell and a local resident Mr B Johnson.

(a)        The Application before the Sub-Committee

The Legal Officer, Leigh Cole, informed the Sub-Committee that an application had been received for a Club premises licence (a Snooker Club) for 10 Torrington Drive, Loughton. Two representations from interested parties had been received along with a letter from the Loughton Residents Association, representing five more residents. Because of this Officers were unable to grant the licence.

(b)       Presentation of the Applicant’s Case

Mr Grimsby began by saying that the applicant respected and understood the concerns expressed by the residents and had met with some of them to try and sort things out. He emphasised that this would not be a night club or a bar but a members club. They would not play loud music nor would there be “vertical drinking”. This was essentially a sports venue. It would be run as a club with licensing club rules. It had been open since 27^th March for people to play Pool/Snooker and has a 48 hour membership rule. Potential members would need to register 48 hours before they were allowed full membership, so there was to be no casual drinking.

Mr Kounnis added that they had a buzzer entry system coupled with a CCTV camera system. There was also a buzzer at the top of the staircase. Members would have their photos taken and put into their computer system and issued with a members ID card. Members could not switch the lights on over their table unless the cards had been swiped. The club had 13 American Pool tables, 2 English Pool Tables, 8 Snooker Tables and a lounge area. The smoking area was at the bottom of the stairway.

This had been a Pool/Snooker club in the past and they were happy to take on any conditions that applied to that club. Members will have use of a free taxi phone; there was a buzzer system to gain entry to the club, so the taxi drivers had no need to blow their horns. Snooker clubs traditionally have a 24 hour culture, hence the application for a late alcohol licence.

With 23 tables in total and 2 to 4 people to a table there would a maximum of about 50 to 60 people there at any one time. But in general it would not be at 100% capacity at any one time.

(c)        Questions for the Applicant from the Sub-Committee

Councillor Morgan asked if smokers would have to leave the club to smoke and then have to log-in again. Mr Kounnis said that yes, they would have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 134.