Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

Councillor L Morales was elected Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

Councillor J Morley was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary and other interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

To consider any business that the Chairman rules may be dealt with under Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no items of Urgent Business.

Reporting Person – Matthew Cobb

The Sub-Committee had before it a report regarding an application for a new Premises Licence for Okra Lounge, 20-31 Station Approach, West Byfleet, for which objections had been received from two members of the public living closeby.  Mr Ayhan Surum, partner of Okra Lounge, attended the meeting with Debbie Harlow.  None of the objectors were present.

All parties present had a copy of the Licensing Committee’s agreed procedure to be followed at Licensing Sub-Committee hearings.  The Chairman introduced Members of the Sub-Committee and outlined the order of speaking which would be followed at the hearing.

The Licensing Authority’s representative, Mr Cobb, summarised the report that was before the Sub-Committee, stating that the application was for:

·      the Sale of Alcohol (both on and off the premises) Monday to Saturday 10.00 to 00.00, Sunday 11.00 to 23.00 with seasonal variations and until 01.00 on New Year’s Eve;

·      Live Music (indoors only) Monday to Sunday 19.00 to 23.00 with seasonal variations and until 00.30 on New Year’s Eve;

·      Recorded Music (indoors only) Monday to Saturday 10.00 to 00.00, Sunday 11.00 to 23.00 with seasonal variations and until 01.00 on New Year’s Eve; and

·      Late Night Refreshment (indoors and outdoors) Monday to Saturday 23.00 to 00.00 with seasonal variations and until 01.00 on New Year’s Eve.

The objections received had highlighted concerns primarily around noise nuisance and the end times for licensable activities.  Originally there had been a total of four objections submitted by members of the public alongside one from Environmental Health; following discussions between the parties to amend the end times as set out above, two objections from the public and the Environmental Health objection had been withdrawn.  The amended terms and conditions sought were set out in Appendix 4 of the report.

The Applicant had no questions for Mr Cobb.

Following questions by Members of the Sub-Committee, it was stated that the Applicant could apply for outside tables under the Pavement Licensing Scheme and the equipment inside the venue such as air conditioning was new, having been installed by the previous occupant.

The Chairman gave the Applicant the opportunity to address the Sub-Committee.  Ms Harlow advised that the unit had been operating as a restaurant bar for many years and the requested hours and conditions had been amended to minimise the impact on local residents.  It was stated that Okra Lounge would be operating as a restaurant with no intention for it to be a nightclub; it was brave of the applicant to open a new venue in the current economic climate; and that four local residents had offered to write letters of support but they had not been received in time.

Following questions by Mr Cobb and Sub-Committee members, Ms Harlow advised that the intention for live music was to provide a comfortable background music for those people eating a meal, for example a live guitar, and recorded music would be played at low levels.  It was clarified that the recorded music should be regarded as ancillary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.