Now contains new information from the applicant and from an objector.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing regarding a New Premises Licence.

The Hearing Panel considered the written papers, oral representations of all parties as well as the relevant legislation and guidance.

The applicant’s agent addressed the Hearing Panel and stated that this was an application for a new premises as the business was moving into a new building. The agent stated that the business had been rebranded with an emphasis on food and would be family friendly. The agent confirmed that conditions had been agreed with Responsible Authorities and were included in the report pack, adding that no external use had been requested and that they had applied for the same hours as other nearby premises. The agent then spoke about the objections received from local residents, stating that 9 representations had been received from 23 dwellings which shared the building and that a virtual meeting had been arranged to discuss residents’ concerns. Residents’ concerns centred around noise and disturbance from patrons and also extraction units with the agent confirming that a noise assessment had been conducted at a neighbouring resident’s apartment with their permission and that the extraction units were fitted with the building, meaning that the vent is located on the roof, away from dwellings. Local residents had also raised concerns about the showing of live sports events at the premises, having noted large crowds gathering and creating a disturbance at the previous venue to watch the screens from outside the building. The agent stated that the applicant had blinds fitted after this disturbance to prevent this occurring again and confirmed that screens in the new premises would not be visible from the street. The agent made final comments about the applicant’s willingness to attend local meetings, noting that the applicant and their door staff had assisted GMP with enquiries when a fight had broken out in the area some time ago.

Local residents addressed the Hearing Panel and stated their concerns around the proximity of the venue and outside area to apartments that share the same building citing noise and disturbance being key factors. The residents felt that the showing of live sports on screen would attract a large and boisterous crowd and, with the addition of alcohol, felt that this would be in breach of the Licensing Objectives. Local residents also expressed disappointment that no communication had been received from the applicant prior to the application being made.

During questioning it was confirmed that the showing of live sports was not a regulated activity and could therefore not be considered as part of the Licensing Objectives.

During their deliberations, the Hearing Panel concluded that the shared building at Cotton Square had been approved for mixed use and that no objections had been received from Responsible Authorities. The Hearing Panel felt that the application, containing conditions agreed with residents, would uphold the Licensing Objectives and saw the applicant as a responsible operator who had reached out to the local community to address their concerns.

Decision

To grant the licence subject to agreed conditions.