Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration on an application for the grant of a premises licence made by Leeds Beckett University for Cloth Hall Court, Quebec Street, Leeds, LS1 2HA.

The Licensing Sub Committee considered the report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration for a premises licence for Cloth Hall Court, Leeds Beckett University, Quebec Street, Leeds, LS1 2HA.

Members noted the following information:-

·  That this was a new premises licence;

·  Hours and activities were detailed at paragraph 3 of the submitted report;

·  No representation had been received from responsible authorities;

·  The applications had received representation from a solicitor acting on behalf of a freehold owner with business interests in the area known as Toronto Square;

·  Cloth Hall Court was located within the Amber Zone cumulative impact area for Leeds City Centre.

Clare Vidler, Conference Manager, Lorraine Foster, Security Manager, and David Collett, Proposed Licence Holder were present at the meeting.

Mr Collett informed the Members that the Cloth Hall Court was to be used as a conference centre as part of the Leeds Beckett University. He said that the venue had a capacity for up to 300 delegates.

Members were advised that the Cloth Hall Court would have a reception on the ground floor with areas for hospitality and exhibitions, sizeable functions rooms above, with the third floor used as office space for the University’s Enterprise department and the Institute of Directors.

Mr Collet advised Members that the venue would be used for conferences with delegates invited to events. He said that the premises would not be open to the general public with the main core business being for conferences not bar facilities, not a nightclub atmosphere.

Mr Collet explained that as this was a new business they were not able to foresee the types of events that the venue would host in the future and therefore were reluctant to provide specific numbers of events in the application.

Members were informed that a bar area would be provided as and when required and that on event evenings there would be trained security staff.

Mr Neil McCann Solicitor for the objector and Juliet Petty of CBRE Managing Agent of Toronto Square attended the meeting.

Mr McCann informed the Committee that his client had the freehold of a newly converted office block next door to Cloth Hall Court. He explained the concerns that his client had in relation to the proposed licensing of Cloth Hall Court as follows:-

·  Public nuisance in the form of litter and noise;

·  Anti-social behaviour in the form of public urination, vomiting and drug use;

·  Effects on people travelling to work the following morning after an event;

·  The fact that this venue is in a cumulative impact area Amber Zone.

Mr McCann said that he had welcomed the conference call with the applicant the previous week. However this had raised some areas for concern namely the mention of late night dinners, balls and discos.

Mr McCann went on to say that his client did not consider it was appropriate or necessary to have a midnight terminal hour for the sale of alcohol, and suggested a terminal hour of 11:00pm. He said that should an event need a late licence the University could apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) as required.

Mr McCann said that his client appreciated that the university had already proffered a number of conditions however his client wanted to ensure that the use of the building would not adversely change and asked for consideration of the following to be added to the conditions:-

·  Licensable activities shall only be provided at pre-booked ticketed events;

·  Where licensable activities are due to take place after 10:00pm a minimum of 2 door supervisors shall be on duty from 9:00pm until after close;

·  All licensable activities shall be carried out by the employees of the premises licence holder. The Premises shall not be hired out to third parties to carry out licensable activities.

Mr Collect informed the Members that events would be limited to pre-booked functions so that they were aware of date, numbers and requirements.

The Legal Services Officer asked for clarification on a number of points. Mr Collett replied as follows;

·  That a minimum of seven days’ notice was required for booking events and that in some cases events were booked a year in advance

·  Events would be by invitation only with delegates having register with the event holder.

·  The applicant was aware that live music, recorded music was regulated and that after 23:00 a Temporary Event Notice would be required.

·  The suggestions made by the Environmental Health Officer had be listen to and included in suggested measures outlined on page 69 of the submitted report.

The Ms Foster, Security Manager, explained to Members that they would use the same approach to security as they had for events at the Rosebowl and the Headingley Campus.

Members were advised that the University use the Challenge 21 policy and so far they had not had events where children were invited however, they did want the flexibility for children to attend events and would be happy with a condition to say that children attending must be accompanied by an adult at all times and to be off the premises by 9:00pm.

The Security Manager explained the procedure for Challenge 21 which is currently used at the Rosebowl venue. She also explained security in relation to attendees going outside for a smoke or to use a phone.

Mr Collett said that the University had a robust operation for events and the University’s strategy for a good community and good neighbour and that they would keep neighbours informed of a late licence or any irregularity.

Members requested clarification as to where the designated smoking point would be located. It was noted that the current policy on smoking requires that smokers to be 5 metres from the building and not in front of an entrance. They had looked at locating a designated smoking area to the rear of the building near to the disabled access.

Ms Petty on behalf of Toronto Square was concerned that this may be located on her clients land and had concerns in relation to litter. It was suggested by the applicant that they could instruct cleaners to ensure that the area was cleaned and tidied after an event.

RESOLVED – Members carefully considered all the points raised and the information provided and on that basis granted the application with the following amendments to the conditions:-

·  That events would terminate at 12:00 midnight;

·  That all events should be pre-booked with a minimum of 7 days’ notice;

·  That 2 door supervisors would be required at events from 21:00 hours till 30 minutes after the terminal time.

·  That children should be accompanied by an adult at all times and that children must be off the premises by 21:00 hours

·  That the venue would not be hired to a third party