The Licensing Panel of Harrow Council was scheduled to consider an objection to a Temporary Event Notice for Unit 2, Brember Road, South Harrow. The panel was also set to review the standard procedures for licensing hearings.

Licensing Procedures

The panel was scheduled to review the procedures that would be followed during an oral hearing. This included the typical steps for introducing attendees, the presentation of reports, and the process for questioning applicants and objectors. The procedures also outlined how decisions would be made and communicated, with options for announcing decisions at the reconvened hearing or sending written decisions within five working days. The report pack included separate procedures for both regular hearings and review hearings.

Temporary Event Notice for Unit 2, Brember Road, South Harrow

A key item on the agenda was the consideration of an objection notice to a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) submitted for Unit 2, Brember Road, South Harrow, HA2 8AX. The applicant, Ms. Natoya Ann-Marie Johnson, sought to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises, provide regulated entertainment, and offer late-night refreshment from 2 August 2024 at 8:00 PM until 3 August 2024 at 4:00 AM, with a maximum occupancy of 150 people.

The Environmental Health department had submitted an objection notice on the grounds of preventing public nuisance. Their concern was that patrons exiting the premises, located on Brember Road which is surrounded by residential properties, might cause a disturbance in the early hours of the morning. The report pack included correspondence detailing the applicant's proposed mitigation measures, such as patron education, a staggered exit strategy, a quiet zone policy, and continued liaison with authorities.

While the police had not formally objected, they had raised questions which the applicant had addressed. The report pack contained details of this correspondence and a fire risk assessment for the premises, dated 8 July 2024, which indicated that various fire safety measures were in place.

The Licensing Panel was required to consider the objection notice, the guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003¹, and the council's statement of licensing policy. The panel had the power to either issue a counter notice prohibiting the event if it was deemed appropriate for the promotion of licensing objectives, or to decide not to issue a counter notice. The report also noted that if a counter notice was not issued, conditions from an existing premises licence could potentially be imposed if they were appropriate for promoting the licensing objectives and consistent with the TEN.