Agenda and minutes

1.1

RESOLVED: That, in the absence of the Chair of the Sub-Committee (Councillor David Barker), Councillor Joe Otten be appointed Chair of the meeting.

2.1

An apology for absence was received from the Chair (Councillor David Barker).

3.1

No items were identified where resolutions may be moved to exclude the public and press.

4.1

There were no declarations of interest.

5.1

The Chief Licensing Officer submitted a report to consider an application to vary a premises licence made under Section 34 of the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of premises known as Bohemia, 173-179 West Street, Sheffield, S1 4EW (Ref No.30/31).

5.2

Present at the meeting were Jonathan Round (Environmental Health Officer), Chris Grunert (Solicitor for the Applicant), Gordon Codona (Operator of the premises), Jayne Gough (Licensing Strategy and Policy Officer), Marie-Claire Frankie (Solicitor to the Sub-Committee) and Jennie Skiba (Democratic Services).

5.3

Marie-Claire Frankie outlined the procedure which would be followed during the hearing.

5.4

Jayne Gough presented the report to the Sub-Committee and it was noted that representations had been received from a member of the public on behalf of numerous people in the local area and from the Environmental Protection Service and were attached at Appendix “C” to the report.  Ms. Gough stated that the public objector had requested to remain anonymous for personal safety reasons.  Chris Grunert asked for clarification as to whether the person who had submitted the objection singularly had the support of the other persons mentioned in the report, to which Ms. Gough confirmed that that was the case.

5.5

Jonathan Round stated that prior to the hearing the Environmental Protection Service had held discussions with the applicant and it had been agreed to amend Condition 17 which stated that there would be 18 tables with 108 seats available, with the aim of breaking up the external area so that it would not become a vertical drinking area and thereby reducing noise breakout. Jonathan Round stated that the Environmental Protection Service were not objecting to the extension of the space, just the use of external speakers in the space.  He felt that Condition 15 should remain so that there would be no external speakers after 10 p.m.  Jonathan Round stated that to set the level of a noise limiter for differing times and days proved difficult for his Service as assessments of ambient noise would require to be made at varying times of the day, evening and night.  He added that noise levels at 10.00 p.m. on a Tuesday night would be totally different to the noise at the same time on a Friday or Saturday night.

5.6

In response to questions from Members of the Sub-Committee, Mr. Round stated that it was very difficult to look at noise levels as the level varied from day to day, but it was something that the Environmental Protection Service would do in the event of complaints being received regarding noise nuisance.  He said that there had been a noise report produced as part of the planning application for the premises and, on appeal, the curfew of 10.00 p.m. on amplified sound had been agreed.  Chris Grunert stated that the planning application doesn’t set the number of people allowed, but during the pandemic times had been difficult, and the proposal was for 18 tables to be put in place with a maximum of 108 people.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.1

This item of business, to consider an application for a premises licence in respect of Club Baize, 14 West Street, Beighton, Sheffield, S20 1EP, (Ref No.31/21) (Item 6 on the agenda), was withdrawn from consideration by the Sub-Committee at the request of the applicant.