The officers consider that the following item or items contains exempt information as provided for in the Local Government Access to Information Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The Committee is recommended to agree the necessary resolutions excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of these items. At the time this agenda is published no representations have been that this part of the meeting should be open to the public.

A recommendation was made that the public be excluded during consideration of the following items of business.

Decision

To exclude the public during consideration of the following items which involved consideration of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of particular persons, and public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

The report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

The Hearing Panel considered a report from the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing.

A Licensing Officer introduced the report, stating that this was an application for the renewal of Street Trader Licence to continue to operate Monday to Sunday, from 06.00 to 00.00. The Licensing Officer listed the refreshments sold from the unit and stated that Street Trader consent had been held since March 2018. Two objections had been received and in summary they related to the unit not being in-keeping with the Grade 2 listed Victoria Station, attracting litter and smells emitted from the unit and not being an in appropriate an place at appropriate times. The Licensing Officer then referred to the Licensing Policy.

The applicant’s legal agent clarified that the licence was first granted in March 2017, rather than 2018 as suggested by the Licensing Officer.

The Panel questioned if any reports of obstruction had been received in relation to this unit. The Licensing Officer was unaware of any and stated that LOOH had not made a representation either.

The applicant’s agent then addressed the Hearing Panel, firstly informing them of the applicant’s experience within the industry. The applicant’s agent quoted excerpts from the Decision Notice provided when the licence was first granted in March 2017. This related to a previous panel’s belief that the unit would not be an obstruction at Victoria Station. A condition of the Street Trader’s licence relates to waste management, something the applicant had adhered to according to their agent, going against the objections regarding litter. The applicant’s agent referred to photographs they had submitted showing cracks in the pavements near to the unit. They felt that those cracks could not be attributed to the applicant. Street Trader licence was renewed in 2018 and 2019 with no objections but was contested in 2020 by another Street Trader in the area with a vested interest. The applicant’s agent stated that objectors had referenced fumes and odours, but the unit has extractor fans and the applicant had not received any complaints relating to either of them. The applicant had previously sought a Premises Licence for late night refreshments which received no objections and was granted in November 2021. The applicant’s agent did not believe that the unit was an obstruction to the entrance and exit of Victoria Station. The applicant’s agent felt that the panel had received objections due to plans for a new bar in the Station and stated that was not a ground for refusal.

The panel stated that they do not believe the objectors had suggested the cracks in the pavement were the fault of the applicant. The panel sought clarity on if anything had changed recently to lead to objectors suggesting there was bad smells coming from the unit, waste management, what the applicant would do if an obstruction was created and if they had been approached by objector regarding the new bar. The applicant stated that they are using the same products and still have extractors installed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103.