There were no apologies for absence at this meeting.

The following declaration of interest was made:

(a) Councillor Line – Minute 15 (Application to vary the Premises Licence – African Taste, 420 London Road) – Personal Licence Holder and works in the licensing trade supplying alcohol to premises.

The sub-committee received a report of the Executive Director (Environment & Place) concerning an application by African Taste Restaurant Limited, for the variation of a premises licence at African Taste, 420 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea.

The sub-committee listened to all the evidence and submissions and have read all the documents.  It had regard to the Statutory Guidance Notes and Southend-on-Sea City Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy. It 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.

The application was presented by Mr N Svresh (the Applicant’s Agent).  Mr F Engmann and Ms Boymacquie (applicants) attended the hearing and gave evidence.

The sub-committee heard that the purpose of the application was to open late to accommodate small family celebrations and offer a facility for care/social/health staff to visit for food and drinks in the early hours.

The sub-committee noted that two letters of objection to this application had been received from the Licensing Authority and the Environmental Protection Team.  They objected on the grounds that the licensing objectives of public nuisance would be undermined and that a terminal hour of 03:00 does not support this objective.

The conditions drawn from the current Premises Licence were set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report of the Council’s Executive Director (Environment and Place).

One (1) representation had also been received from a local resident, objecting to the application. The objector’s representative attended the hearing and gave evidence.  Copies of their written representations were also provided to the sub-committee in advance of the hearing. 

The objection/representation essentially related to all four of the licensing objectives namely, the concerns related to the potential increase of crime and disorder and public nuisance (namely noise) and anti-social behaviour.

The sub-committee therefore considered that the promotion of the licensing objectives, namely the prevention of public nuisance (noise and disturbance), would be undermined by the granting of the application before them and the application failed to demonstrate how it would meet the licensing objectives. It was therefore:

Resolved:

That the application to vary the premises licence be refused.