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Agenda item

Application for a new premises licence - 32-34 Cornfield Road

Minutes:

All parties present introduced themselves and the Chair detailed the

procedure to be followed at the hearing.  There were no objections to the procedure from those present.

 

The Specialist Advisor for Licensing outlined the report setting out the application for a new premises licence for 32-34 Cornfield Road.

 

Details of the application for a new premises licence were appended

to the report. When submitting an application for a new premises

licence under the Licensing Act 2003, the applicant was required to describe

any steps they intended to take to promote the four licensing objectives, as

defined by the Licensing Act 2003. These were appended to the report at

Appendix 1.

 

The premises in question is located within the cumulative impact zone

(CIZ) and where valid representations were received, the cumulative impact

policy (CIP) created a rebuttable presumption that the application be

refused.

 

Following a consultation period of 28 days, three representations had been

received and were included in part of the agenda pack circulated. The representations centred on the prevention of public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder.

 

Sussex Police as a responsible authority had mediated with the applicant

and agreed two conditions.  A copy of the e-mail correspondence was attached at Appendix 3 of the report.

 

Kirsty Rolfe, Sussex Police Licensing Officer, proposed alternative conditions to those previously mediated with the Applicant. See Decision Notice.

 

Mr Tamal Taru Saha, representative of Mr Rabin Paul, Leaseholder of 28-30 Cornfield Road, made his submission on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance.  He raised concerns regarding the applicant’s proposal to play live music on Friday and Saturday evenings and on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve till 2am, stating there would be substantive noise pollution.  He urged the Sub-Committee to refuse the application. 

 

Melaine Bell, 34a Cornfield Road and representative of Martina Ercolini, Flat 3, 12 Lushington Road, said that public notices would not act as a deterrent to prevent people congregating and creating a disturbance.  She said the external doors would probably be left open allowing noise from inside the premises to escape.  She also said there would not be sufficient space outside the front of the premises on the pavement for people to pass a bench or a small table safely with a pram or in a wheelchair.  She raised further concerns regarding refuse and live amplified music, stating that soundproofing was not considered necessary at the time when the flats were built and she was subsequently refused planning permission for UPVC windows.  She said the application, if approved, would affect the quality of their lives. 

 

Christian Schmidt, representative of the applicant, addressed the Sub-Committee, stating that he apologised on behalf of the applicant for the ambiguity of the wording in the application.  He said the purpose of the businesses was as a gallery/book club with a cafe, not as a nightclub with DJ etc.  He said the premises would open under conventional hospitality hours providing coffee, tea and snacks and occasionally there would be large events to conclude at 10pm.  Different Eastbourne artists would be invited to attend every month.  He said there would be no PA system, just ambient music to allow conversation.  This, he said, would be a positive cultural and creative premises in the Devonshire Quarter. 

 

In response to questions from the Sub-Committee, the applicant confirmed the internal measurements of the premises would be 10m x 5m.  She confirmed the seating arrangements, stating that inside the premises there would be four café tables and several stools around the bar. Following communication with Kirstie Rolfe, no provision would be made for outside seating.  Private events would be held once a month, these would include private viewings which would provide an opportunity for artists to exhibit and sell their work. These events would be limited to 20/30 people.  The DJ, she said, would be herself changing CD’s and playing ambient jazz and classical music. There would be no amplified music.  She said it was unlikely that the landlord would allow the installation of soundproofing to limit noise emissions. 

 

In response, Melanie Bell, questioned how the applicant intended to limit the number of attendees for live music events; and given the vertical alcohol restrictions, she said 20/30 people would not be able to sit down at four cafe tables to eat and drink. Furthermore, she said she would still be able to hear music whether amplified or not as there is no soundproofing between the buildings.

 

Following all the evidence presented, the Sub-Committee retired to consider and determine the application.

 

Having taking into account all the relevant considerations, the Sub-

Committee reconvened and announced the decision as follows:

 

RESOLVED:  That the application to vary the license be approved.

 

Supporting documents: