Issue - meetings

PREMISES:    The Three Crowns, 25 Market Place, Whitwick, Leicestershire,

LE67 5DT

APPLICANT: Mr Imtiaz Alimahomed

To determine an application for a new premises licence in respect of the above.

Representations have been received from 3 responsible authorities and 4 other persons. A notice of hearing inviting them to attend has been sent to each of them. If they fail to attend, the hearing can be held in their absence or adjourned.

The following documents are attached:-

a)     Report of the Licensing Enforcement Officer

At the beginning of the Hearing, the authority shall explain to the parties the procedure it is proposed to follow. The Hearing shall take the form of a discussion led by the authority and cross-examination shall not be permitted unless it is required to consider the representations.

The Chairman introduced the parties and outlined the procedure to be followed.

The Hearing Regulations 2005 stated that the Authority must allow parties an equal period of time in which to present their evidence. It was agreed that the maximum time limit for each presentation be ten minutes.

The Licensing Enforcement Officer presented the report to Members, highlighting background information and representations received.

In response to questions from Councillor J Clarke, the Licensing Enforcement Officer confirmed that the premises was in operation up until the licence was surrendered and there was no cause for concern during this time, however it was during the first national lockdown due to Covid-19 and many premises were not operating as normal.

The applicant’s representative, Ms Yvonne Freeman, addressed the meeting.  Ms Freeman would be the Designated Premises Supervisor if the application was successful.  She confirmed that all conditions requested by Environmental Protection and the police in relation to noise and disturbance had been agreed.  She explained that much of the noise and disturbance in the past was at the front of the premises and that was because the back of the premises had to be closed by 11pm in line with licence conditions.  The new licence application allowed the back of the premises to remain open and therefore it could still be used as a smoking area.  She confirmed that the back of the premises would be monitored by CCTV 24 hours a day which would help control noise and behaviour, this footage would be kept for a three-month period.  She added that it was her intention to restrict the use of glass containers outside of the premises after a certain time.  She concluded by confirming that the application was for recorded music to be played Monday to Sunday and live entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays, the closing hours were in line with other licensed premises in the area.

In response to a question from Councillor J Clarke, the applicant’s representative confirmed that the premises did having living accommodation, but she would not be living there as she was a local resident.  It was unknown what the intentions were for the living accommodation.

Councillor M Hay referred to the recent history of anti-social behaviour at the premises and asked what the intended action was to prevent this problem going forward.   The applicant’s representative explained that the CCTV would be in operation at all times and a screen behind the bar would allow staff to monitor this.  There was also a refusals list at the premises and as the applicant’s representative worked at the premises previously, she was aware who these people were.  Finally, she added that anyone entering the premises who was already intoxicated would be refused sale and anyone causing anti-social behaviour would be asked to leave, with police involvement if necessary.

In response to a further question from Councillor J Clarke, the applicant’s representative confirmed that customers would be using the back of the premises as a smoking area rather than the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4