Agenda and minutes

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

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no Reserve Members in attendance at this meeting.

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.

(See also Minute 89).

1)         Item 8, Referral Back to the Panel of the Application for the Renewal of a Public Entertainments Licence – The Trinity Bar, 378/380 Station Road, Harrow: Councillor Knowles wanted it recorded that whilst he did dine at Eden Restaurant which is owned by one of the licensees of the Trinity Bar he had no prejudicial or personal interest in the application.

2)            Councillor Knowles made a statement that he wished to be recorded. He said that he was making the statement as a result of a contact from a third party. He was not going to disclose either that person’s name, the item on the agenda to which he was referring, or which way he was asked to vote.

He said that any decisions he made would be an objective decision and not as a result of a threat that he should vote a particular way. He did not take lightly a threat of report to the Standards Board for England if he did not vote in a particular way.

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 meeting held on 22 October 2003, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2003 be deferred until printed in the 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 to be received at this meeting under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 18 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no petitions to be received at this meeting under the provisions of the Committee Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 16 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no deputations submitted to this meeting under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 16 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

Report of the Chief Environmental Health Officer

The Panel received an update from the Chief Environmental Health Officer of an application for the renewal of a public entertainments licence for the Trinity Bar. An application was previously submitted by the owners Shaun Eyles and Martin Blake on 29^th July 2003 when the Panel renewed the licence application with variations for a 6 month trial period. The trial period expired on 28^th January 2004 and the Panel were asked to determine the renewal following that period.

The Panel were informed that during the trial period there had been no complaints and in addition the Metropolitan Police were not objecting to the renewal.

Councillor Knowles congratulated the licensees on the effectiveness of the measures taken by the Management of the Bar to clear up the problem of fly-postering associated with the bar.

RESOLVED: That the application be granted for a full 12 months starting from 29^th January 2004 and that the applicants pay a fee equivalent to 6 months of an annual licence as 6 months’ fee had previously been paid.

Report of the Chief Environmental Health Officer

The Panel received a report of the Chief Environmental Health Officer detailing an application for a new public entertainment licence for The Crazy Horse, 43 Church Road, Stanmore as submitted by Patricia Negus Fancey, solicitor representing Food and Drinks Ltd who own the lease for the premises, together with Peter Batkin, owner, and Daniel Owide, manager of the premises.

The premises are situated in a mixed residential and commercial part of the town centre. The application is for a capacity of 200 persons for the whole premises with limited parking on site for patrons’ cars.  Additional works to install CCTV and ventilation systems to the premises are yet to be completed.  Recently a new residential block of apartments, The Pynnacles, was built adjacent to the Crazy Horse.

The officer outlined the case and informed the Panel that the application has been referred to the Panel as the hours were outside the Council’s standard hours.  In addition, objections were received from local residents and the Metropolitan Police. However, further to the Police’s letter of objection, the applicants met with the Police and agreed to accept conditions to satisfy their concerns. Accordingly, the Police withdrew their objections to the application.

The Panel agreed to Councillor Mrs Bath, Ward Councillor for Stanmore Park, making a statement on behalf of her constituents from whom she had received several letters of objection to the application.  She told the Panel that the high density of the area and the fact that part of Stanmore was a Conservation area were sufficient reasons not to grant such an application. She raised concerns over the age of the building, which at the time had no soundproofing. She wanted reassurance from the owner that air conditioning would be installed by the summer in order to keep windows and doors closed thereby preventing any noise leakage from the premises. The constituents had also raised the issues of the lack of Police in the area, and the additional crime that may be associated with a venue with a capacity of 200.  Councillor Mrs Bath wanted to know where the patrons were expected to park, as there were only 20 spaces at the rear of the property. In addition she asked if there was going to be female door security in order to facilitate the searching of females. She also raised the issue of the closing hours and the noise from patrons leaving the premises. Summing up, she asked the Panel to consider her constituents’ objections and not to grant the application.

Responding to Councillor Mrs Bath’s statement, Patricia Negus Fancey informed the Panel that out of the 22 objections 3 had been withdrawn. She also advised Members that some of the issues raised by Councillor Mrs Bath and the objectors had been addressed by the owner, who was also happy to comply with the conditions set by the Police in their letter.

Peter Batkin, owner of the premises, confirmed that he had invested £280,000 on the refurbishment, air conditioning and soundproofing of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 96.