Agenda and minutes

To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made pursuant to the Council’s Members’ Code of Conduct.

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.

To consider the attached report.

The three Councillors that presided over this application were Councillors J M Whitehouse (Chairman), A Lion and L Mead.

The Chairman welcomed James Webster, the Applicant. Also, in attendance was C Smith and T Latham, Environment & Enforcement Officers. The Chairman introduced the Members and officers present and outlined the procedure that would be followed for the determination of the application.

(a)            Application before the Sub-Committee

The Licensing Compliance Officer, D Bastick, informed the Sub-Committee that an application had been made by James Webster for a Temporary Event Notice for the following premises: The Pink Zebra, 6 Foxes Parade, Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey EN9 1PH. The event is for a New Year’s Eve Party to take place on 31st December 20022 to 1st January 2023 between 20:00 to 03:00 for a maximum of 200 people. The licensable activities applied for are as follows:

•           The sale by retail of alcohol,

•           The provision of regulated entertainment and

•           The provision of late-night refreshment.

The application was received on the 9th of November 2022. 

The authority has received an objection notice from Environmental Enforcement/ Community Resilience Team. They stated that the premises currently had a Noise Abatement Notice in force that was served in May 2022. In addition, they had a condition on their premises licence which states all music is to go through a noise limiter. On 25 September 2022 the Duty Noise Officer visited out of hours in response to a complaint received and loud music was witnessed past 01:00am that was a breach of the notice.

During a recorded phone conversation with James Webster on 6th October 2022 he advised that on the night in question they had by-passed the noise limiter as they didn’t think there would be any issues with this – this was a clear breach of licensing conditions.

On 15th October 2022 again the duty noise officer attended in response to a complaint and witnessed loud music deemed to be a further breach of the notice and also people noise. The officer remained in the area until 02:00am and the noise continued.

(b)           Presentation of the Application

Mr Webster said he was asking for the TEN for New Years eve. Everyone would be out by 3.30am and explained that they had engaged doormen to keep order. He explained that he always tried to engage with his neighbours if they expressed any concerns about the noise and expressed his regret for any of the recent problems as outlined by the objection received.

(c)            Questions for the Applicant from the Objector

Mr Smith asked where the customers would stay when waiting for their taxis. Mr Webster replied that they would wait outside and some inside, or around the back of the premises.

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

The Sub-committee asked what was the maximum number people that the premises could accommodate. They were told that it would be about a 200 to 220 capacity. They then asked how he would manage the dispersal of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.