Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration which sets out an application for the grant of a premises licence for Freedom Mills Unit 47, Washington Street, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS3 1JQ.

(Report attached)

The report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration presented an application for consideration for the grant of a premises licence for Freedom Mills, Unit 47, Washington Street, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS3 1JQ.

At the discretion of the Chair and with the agreement of all parties it was agreed to hear together Agenda Item 9 and Agenda Item 10 – Temporary Event Notice for Freedom Mills, Unit 47, Washington Street, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS3 1JQ.

In attendance at the hearing were:-

Kyle McSparron – Licence Holder

Joshua Threlfall – Director

Matthew Cooney – Consultant

Natasha Forrest – WYP – Observing

Sarah Blenkhorn – WYP – Observing

Cath Arkle – WYP

Samantha Longfellow – Licensing Authority

Seamus Kennedy – Licensing Authority

James Gall West Yorkshire Fire Service

The sub-Committee noted that James Gall of, West Yorkshire Fire Service had been called as a witness by WYP.

Supplementary information had been supplied by James Gall in relation to a Prohibition Notice which had been served on the premises by West Yorkshire Fire Service and circulated to all parties prior to the hearing. The Prohibition Notice had been received in relation to the Temporary Event Notice (TEN) on the grounds of public safety.

The Members were advised that this was the first premises licence application for these premises. A summary of the application was set out at 3.3 of the submitted report.

It was noted that WYP had made representations in respect of the premises licence application. Agreement had been reached with WYP and its objection had therefore been withdrawn.

WYP had been advised of a TEN for Freedom Mills. It was noted that the event was due to take place on Saturday 7^th April 20:00 until Sunday 8^th April 2018 05:00, the capacity for the event was to be 499 persons. WYP had been of the view that to allow the premises to be used for the event would undermine the public safety objective. This was set out at appendix C of the submitted report.

It was noted that West Yorkshire Fire Service also expressed their concerns after reading the report.

Mr Cooney speaking on behalf of Freedom Mills informed the Sub-Committee that the application was for an Events and Art Space and would form a valuable part of the community. He said that the venue had been used in the past for a variety of activities including exhibition area for artists’ work and club nights. Previously the events had taken place without alcohol being served. However they would now like to promote events at which alcohol could be served so that the activities on offer can be more varied.

Mr Cooney informed the Members that a snagging list had been provided by the authority and would hopefully be completed soon. However due to the weather they had fallen behind and requested that everything be held back for at least 2 weeks.

Mr Cooney advised the Members that James Gall of the Fire Service had been invited to a meeting to discuss concerns and look at solutions.

Mr Cooney advised the Sub-Committee that the applicant wished to withdraw the TEN and submit a new application for the premises at a later date.

James Gall addressed the meeting setting out his concerns as follows:-

·  No fire alarm system

·  Only two areas of escape located at main entrance

·  Doors were not sufficiently wide enough to allow escape

·  Lining materials not sure if fire retardant

·  Steps near fire doors

It was noted that a notice had been served on Mr Threlfall, the Director on the day of the visit stating that the premises were not deemed adequate in relation to illumination and escape.

Mr Threlfall in responding explained some of the works undertaken to address the concerns including opening up 116mm wide doors to the rear of the stage that had not been there previously.

All responsible authorities were of the view that Building Control should visit the premises to ensure that all work undertaken was satisfactory.

The Chair made the following observations that once the fire regulation issues had been resolved and the work undertaken had been signed off by Building Control, all responsible authorities may be able to come to an agreement.

RESOLVED – To adjourn the hearing of the premises licence application until 24^th April 2018.

The application for the Temporary Event Notice to be withdrawn.