Agenda item

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory requests Members consideration on an application for the grant of a premises licence, made by Mrs Sharron Jerome, for Kalabash Unit C, 231 - 235 Chapeltown Road, Chapeltown, Leeds, LS7 3DX.

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory submitted a report seeking Members consideration on an application for the grant of a premises licence, made by Mrs Sharron Jerome, for Kalabash, Unit C, 231 - 235 Chapeltown Road, Chapeltown, Leeds, LS7 3DX.

Some supplementary information, in the form of sample food menus, was agreed by all parties and circulated prior to the meeting.

In summary, the application requested the sale by retail of alcohol every day between 12:00 pm and 23:00 pm for consumption on and off the premises. The application stated that the premises will operate as a café with external seating.

The application had received one letter of objection, which had been signed by 3 ward councillors on behalf of local residents. This objection refers to negative impact on the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance. There were no objectors present at the meeting.

The following were in attendance:

-  Mrs Sharron Jerome – Applicant

-  Mr Ed Smith (Levi Solicitors LLP) – Representing the Applicant

Mr Smith addressed the Sub-Committee on behalf of the applicant, providing a brief overview of the history of the premises. Members were advised that Mrs Jerome had traded at the premises since 2015 without any cause for complaint, and considers the premises to be community driven, with a clientele of mostly elderly local residents. Members were advised that the application had been submitted to allow an area in front of the premises to be used for customers to sit outside as per current government restrictions, but for this to be permitted to continue once those restrictions came to an end. Referring to the objections received, Mr Smith noted that a number of premises in close proximity held licences that allow sale by retail of alcohol for hours far beyond the hours applied for by Mrs Jerome, and that there is no evidence to suggest that the changes applied for would increase crime and disorder in the area, suggesting that comments from the objectors were purely speculative. In relation to noise, Members were advised that the premises is located on a very busy road in terms of traffic, and that the small outdoor seating area would be unlikely to add to the noise pollution in the local area. It was also confirmed that a six-bay carpark is located to the rear of the premises, and there would be no external sales of alcohol. Mr Smith advised that Mrs Jerome would be happy to restrict seating in the outdoor area to 10.00 p.m. and display a sign to encourage customers to stay quiet and respect neighbours as they leave the premises.

In response to a question from Members, Mrs Jerome confirmed that the menu submitted would remain unchanged upon reopening.

The Licensing Sub-Committee carefully considered the report of the Chief Officer (Elections and Regulatory), the Statement of Licensing Policy and the representations submitted and made at the hearing on behalf of the applicant.

RESOLVED – That the application be granted as applied for, with the addition of the following conditions:

a)  That the outdoor seating area would not be available for use after 10.00 p.m; and

b)  That signage will be displayed asking customers to please stay quiet and respect their neighbours as they leave the premises.