The Licensing Sub Committee E of Hackney Council met to consider a premises licence application and a summary licence review. Councillor Sharon Patrick, Councillor Gilbert Smyth, and Councillor Christopher Kennedy were the members of the committee.

Application for Premises Licence: Raleigh Chapel, 138 Church Walk

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application for a new premises licence for Raleigh Chapel, located at 138 Church Walk, London, N16 8QQ. Central Works Ltd applied for the licence, seeking permission to supply alcohol for consumption both on and off the premises. The proposed hours for alcohol sales were:

• Monday to Saturday: 11:00 to 23:00
• Sunday: 09:00 to 22:30

The opening hours of the premises were proposed as:

• Monday to Saturday: 11:00 to 23:30
• Sunday: 11:00 to 23:00

The report pack included the application as Appendix A.

Background

The premises were not currently licensed for any activities, and no temporary event notices¹ had been issued for the location in the current year.

Representations

The council received representations from responsible authorities² and other persons regarding the application.

Responsible Authorities

• The Environmental Health Authority (Environmental Protection) initially made representations, but withdrew them after agreeing to conditions.
• The Environmental Health Authority (Environmental Enforcement) submitted a representation based on concerns about the prevention of public nuisance. Hisham Rana was the contact name for this representation.
• The Police and Fire Authority confirmed they had no representations regarding the application.

Other Persons

Six representations were received from and on behalf of local residents, citing concerns about the prevention of public nuisance, crime and disorder, and public safety.

Officer Observations

The report pack outlined a number of mandatory conditions relating to the supply of alcohol, including ensuring a designated premises supervisor³ (DPS) is in place, responsible alcohol promotions, the provision of free potable water, and the adoption of an age verification policy.

Additional conditions derived from the applicant's operating schedule⁴ were also suggested, such as the installation and maintenance of a CCTV system, the keeping of an incident log, and restrictions on waste collections.

Conditions arising from representations made by the Environmental Health Authority were also listed, including measures to prevent noise nuisance and ensure responsible waste disposal.

Applicant's Submission

The applicant, Central Works Ltd, submitted a statement in support of their application, addressing concerns raised by those making representations. They emphasised that the premises would operate as a community hall, hosting a range of activities, and that the sale of alcohol would be ancillary to this main function.

To address concerns about the location's suitability, the applicant proposed a condition stating:

The licensable activities authorised by this licence and provided at the premises shall be ancillary to the main function of the premises as a community hall.

They also proposed that alcohol sales would only be provided at pre-booked ticketed events, with attendees required to provide their names, email addresses, and telephone numbers.

Regarding outside drinking, the applicant acknowledged concerns about public nuisance but stated that the intention was not to have large groups congregating outside. They proposed limiting the number of patrons consuming alcohol outside to 30 at any one time, monitored by a staff member.

The applicant also addressed concerns about noise from amplified music, stating that sound tests had been conducted and that music was barely audible outside the premises. They had agreed to an additional condition relating to maximum decibel levels to provide further protection to residents.

Representations from Local Residents

Several local residents submitted representations objecting to the premises licence application. Common concerns included:

• Prevention of Public Nuisance: Residents expressed concerns about potential noise and disturbance from patrons congregating outside, particularly in the evenings and at weekends. They requested that alcohol consumption be restricted to within the building and that soundproofing measures be installed.
• Impact on the Women's Centre: One resident raised concerns about the proximity of the premises to a women's centre supporting vulnerable women, arguing that allowing alcohol sales next to this service was reckless and showed no consideration for their wellbeing.
• Prevention of Crime and Disorder: One representation suggested that an 'off-license' would make it difficult for staff to control entry and exit, potentially increasing opportunities for theft.

Policy Considerations

The report pack noted that the Licensing Sub-Committee was required to consider Hackney Council's Statement of Licensing Policy, specifically policies LP1 (General Principles) and LP2 (Licensing Objectives). These policies relate to demonstrating an understanding of the locality, promoting the licensing objectives, and mitigating risks associated with crime, disorder, public safety, public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.

Application for Summary Licence Review: Sumiya, 66-68 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2A 3QR

The agenda included an application for a summary licence review of the premises licence for Sumiya, located at 66-68 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2A 3QR. A report on this matter was to follow.

The report pack included a recommendation that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of this item due to the disclosure of exempt information as defined under paragraph 7, Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Temporary Event Notices

The agenda included a standing item regarding temporary event notices.