Agenda item

4.1

The Chief Licensing Officer submitted a report to consider an application for a Premises Licence made under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003, in respect of the premises known as Green City Coffee, Unit 1, Kelham Island, Sheffield, S3 8SD.

4.2

Present at the meeting were James Green (Applicant), Matt Proctor (Senior Licensing Officer), Kavita Ladva (Solicitor to the Sub-Committee) and John Turner (Democratic Services).

4.3

Kavita Ladva outlined the procedure which would be followed during the hearing.

4.4

Matt Proctor presented the report to the Sub-Committee and it was noted that representations had been received from two local residents, and were attached at Appendix ‘B’ to the report.  Although they had been invited, neither resident attended the hearing.

4.5

James Green stated that the premises was currently operating as a coffee shop/delicatessen and that he was applying for the Premises Licence in order to expand the business and provide customers the opportunity of consuming alcohol with their food.  In terms of his staff, he stated that two members held Personal Licences and one had undertaken the relevant Security Industry Authority (SIA) training.  Mr Green stated that he wanted to provide an enhanced service for people living and working in the surrounding area. 

4.6

In response to questions from Members of the Sub-Committee and Kavita Ladva, Mr Green stated that there were a number of pubs within walking distance of the premises, which all opened considerably later than his premises.  The premises had a capacity of 40 and was open seven days a week.  The majority of his customers were local residents or people who worked in the area as there was limited car parking for those customers travelling from outside the area.  He only planned to have occasional live music at the premises, as well as during festivals/events held in the City, such as Tramlines, the Victoria Market and this year’s Tour De France.  To date, he had not received any complaints of noise nuisance, despite the fact that he had held four temporary events at the premises.  Mr Green confirmed that he was the Designated Premises Supervisor and stated that, whilst there could be incidences of customers dancing in the premises, there was no designated dance floor, nor would the premises encourage this on a regular basis.  There was a reasonably sized veranda to the front of the premises, the doors to which were generally closed early evening, apart from when it was very warm during the Summer months.  He confirmed that he had all the relevant background information in terms of the Challenge 21 scheme, and that all his staff had the relevant experience in terms of working in the licensing trade.  Following a suggestion by the Chair, he also confirmed that he would contact Julie Hague, Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board, to discuss this, and any other queries he had regarding safeguarding issues.  The area surrounding the premises comprised a mix of residential and business accommodation, with a potential for further expansion.  With regard to the representations made by the two local residents, specifically the concerns relating to a potential increase in anti-social behaviour, Mr Green confirmed that there had been no problems in terms of public safety or public nuisance in or outside the premises.  He made the point that the premises closed at 22:30 hours, at which point a number of his customers moved on to one of the public houses in the area.  Mr Green confirmed that he was satisfied with the licence conditions he had agreed with the Environmental Protection Service and the Health Protection Service.  Mr Green concluded by stating that whilst he had acted in the capacity of an agent in terms of the sale of the flats above the premises, he was not the owner, and would receive no income from the sale of the flats.

4.7

James Green summarised his application.

4.8

Matt Proctor outlined the options open to the Sub-Committee.

4.9

RESOLVED: That the public and press and attendees involved in the application be excluded from the meeting before further discussion takes place on the grounds that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, if those persons were present, there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information as described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

4.10

Kavita Ladva reported orally, giving legal advice on various aspects of the application.

4.11

At this stage in the proceedings, the meeting was re-opened to the public and press and attendees.

4.12

RESOLVED: That, in the light of the information contained in the report now submitted, and the representations now made, the Sub-Committee agrees to grant the Premises Licence in respect of Green City Coffee, Unit 1, Kelham Island, Sheffield, S3 8SD, in the terms requested and subject to the agreed conditions and the additional condition, as follows:-

A colour CCTV system, to the specification of South Yorkshire Police, will be fitted, maintained and in use at all times whilst the premises are open.  The CCTV images will be stored for 31 days and the Police and authorised officers of the Council will be given access to the images for purposes in connection with the prevention and detection of crime and disorder.

(The full reasons for the Sub-Committee’s decision will be included in the written Notice of Determination).