Agenda and minutes

(1)               To note the appointment of Councillor Knowles at the Special Meeting of the General Purposes and Licensing Committee on 15 May 2003 under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 7.2, as Chair of the Panel for the Municipal Year 2003/2004.

FOR INFORMATION

(2)               It is understood that Councillor Knowles will be absent from this meeting by reason of a prejudicial interest in the substantive business. In those circumstances it would be necessary to appoint a Chair for the purposes of this meeting.

FOR CONSIDERATION

RESOLVED: To note the appointment by the General Purposes and Licensing Panel on 23 June 2003, of Councillor O’Dell as Chair of the Licensing Panel for the Municipal Year 2003/2004.

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Members:-

To receive declarations of interest (if any) from Members of the Committee arising from business to be transacted at this meeting.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interests made by Members in relation to the business transacted at this meeting.

Which the Chair has decided is urgent and cannot otherwise be dealt with.

In accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 4B “Business not on the Agenda” the Chair admitted an item onto the agenda.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor John Branch be appointed Vice Chair of the Panel for the Municipal Year 2003/2004.

To consider whether any of the items listed on the agenda should be considered with the press and public excluded on the grounds that it is thought likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that there would be disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence or of exempt information as defined in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985.

RESOLVED:  That all items be considered with the press and public present.

That the minutes of the meetings held on 4 December 2002 and 6 February 2003, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as correct records.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 May 2003 be deferred until printed in the next Council Bound Minute Volume.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 18 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no public questions, petitions or deputations submitted to this meeting under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rules 18, 15 and 16 (Part 4B of the Constitution) respectively.

Report of the Chief Environmental Health Officer.

The Panel received a report of the Chief Environmental Health Officer detailing an application submitted by the proprietor, Mr E Dagdelen, for a renewal of a night café licence for Kebabland, at College Road, Harrow, Middx.

The initial licence was granted on 15 May 2001 with the additional condition number 6 relating to rubbish within the vicinity.

The premises is in a terrace of commercial properties in College Road facing Harrow on the Hill underground Station, which is a principally commercial area.

The applicant wishes to serve food in the restaurant after 11pm and in addition serve takeaway food after midnight.  He requires a night café licence for both these activities. A submission was tabled on behalf of Councillor Bluston, Ward Member for Greenhill, in favour of the application.

The application was advertised by a poster displayed on the premises and copies of the application were sent to the Metropolitan Police and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.  The Chief Planning Officer has advised that there are no planning restrictions on the use of the premises. On receipt of the application the Council also gave notice by advertising on the list of Planning Applications and further informing the relevant statutory authorities.

The Panel were asked to determine this application as an objection had been made in respect of litter emanating from the premises. 

The letter of objection raised concerns over the amount of litter coming from Kebabland, and felt that the proprietor had failed to observe condition number 6 regarding this issue.

Mrs Dagdelen informed the Panel that they were taking appropriate steps to improve the litter situation. They had already changed the colour of the styrofoam packaging to yellow and were investigating options for the logo “Kebabland” and “Keep Britain Tidy” She felt that Kebabland had been blamed for other persons litter, and believed that such measures would differentiate theirs from other takeaway restaurants. This would prove that Kebabland was not responsible for all the litter produced within the area. Mrs Dagdelen suggested that all the nearby eating establishments should contribute to a litter patrol, to which they were happy to contribute. She advised the Panel that they always paid their council tax and that to refuse their licence would cripple their business. Mrs Dagdelen reassured the Members that they were carrying out the litter patrols as agreed every evening after closing time, and picked up litter regardless of where it originated.

A Member suggested that at least on an annual basis the owner arrange a litter collecting day and invited the Members, in particular, Ward Members to join in. He also suggested inviting the Press to publicise the event in order to help promote a “keep Harrow clean” attitude.

The Chair welcomed the enthusiasm of the applicants and the contributions made to control the rubbish problem, and hoped that this would encourage other restaurants in the area to act similarly.

RESOLVED:  That the application for a renewal of a Night Café Licence for Kebabland, College Road, Harrow,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.