There were no apologies for absence.

No interests were declared at the meeting.

Report of Corporate Director for Place

The sub-committee received a report of the Corporate Director for Place concerning an application by African Taste Restaurant Limited for the grant of a premises licence in respect of African Taste, 420 London Road, Westcliff on-Sea, SS0 9LA.

The application was presented by Mr P West (Licensing Consultant). The applicant was not in attendance at the meeting.

The sub-committee noted that no objections to the application had been received from any of the Responsible Authorities, although conditions had been agreed with Essex Police should the application be granted which addressed their concerns. 

Representations had however, been received from a local resident, namely Ms Taylor.  The objector did not attend the hearing.

The objector`s concerns primarily related to potential contravention of the licensing objective - the prevention of public nuisance.

The sub-committee listened to all the evidence and submissions, and read all the documents.  It had regard to the Statutory Guidance Notes and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy. The sub-committee further considered the four licensing objectives namely the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

On the basis of the evidence presented to it, the sub-committee considered that the licensing objectives and the objector’s concerns would be adequately addressed by the conditions imposed on the licence.  The sub-committee therefore:

Resolved:

That the application be granted subject to:

(i)  The mandatory conditions set out in Appendix 1 to the report of the Corporate Director for Place;

(ii)  The conditions drawn from the operating schedule set out in Appendix 2 to the report of the Corporate Director for Place;

(iii) The conditions agreed between Essex Police and the applicant set out in Appendix 3 to the report of the Corporate Director for Place;

(iv)  The following additional conditions:

•  External bottle bins and external rubbish bins shall not be used or emptied between 21:00 hrs to 09:00 hrs the following day.

•  The smoking area shall be located on the forecourt in Valkyrie Road only.

•  A public notice, visible from the highway, shall be displayed giving the telephone number of a responsible person on the premises who shall be available should a member of the public wish to discuss any matter relating to the premises.