Agenda and minutes

To report any changes to the membership.

1.1.     There were no changes to the Membership of the Sub Committee.

1.2.     For the purposes of this meeting, the Chairman proposed that Councillor Barbara Arzymanow be appointed Substitute Chairman. Councillor Arzymanow accepted the appointment.

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of the existence and nature of any pecuniary interests or any other significant interest in matters on this agenda.

1.1.     There were no Declarations of Interest.

Present:                       Mr Tim Shield, John Gaunt & Partners, Licensing Solicitors (representing the applicant); Niall Hyslop, Whitbread Group Plc (for the applicant); Richard Brown, Citizens Advice Westminster that (representing residents); and John Zamit, SEBRA (Southeast Bayswater Residents’ Association).

Representations:        Representations had been received from the Environmental Health Service (EHS); Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)[1]; John Zamit, SEBRA; and Elizabeth Virgo, The Paddington Waterways & Maida Vale Society.

Applicant:                    Whitbread Group Plc

Ward:                           Hyde Park

CIA[2]:                             Not applicable

Summary of Application

The application was for a new premises licence.

INTRODUCTION

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the Members of the Sub Committee and the Council Officers who would be supporting the Sub Committee. The Chairman explained the procedure that would be followed at the meeting before inviting the Presenting Officer, Ms Jessica Donovan, to present the report.

PRESENTATIONS AND SUBMISSIONS

Ms Jessica Donovan, Senior Licensing Officer

Ms Donovan summarised the application as set out in the report before the Sub Committee, noting that representations had been received from The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS);[3] the Environmental Health Service; a local resident; and the Chairman of the Mayfair Residents’ Group.

Mr Tim Shield, John Gaunt & Thomas Partners, Licensing Solicitors

Mr Shield stated that he would be presenting the application on behalf of Whitbread Group Plc and that he was accompanied by Mr Niall Hyslop, New Openings Manager for Whitbread Group Plc, who would be able to advise the Sub Committee on the detail of the application, if necessary.

Mr Shield referred the Sub Committee to his submission which was set out on Page 5 of the Additional Information Pack. He stated that Whitbread Group Plc was a well-known company which operated Premier Inns across the UK[4] and had done so for many years without any issues arising in relation to the licensing objectives. The present application was for the sale of alcohol within core hours to non-residents, and 24-hours a day to residents

Mr Shield referred the Sub Committee to the plans of the premises set out in Pages 18 & 19 of the Agenda Pack, and the areas which it was proposed would be licensed as demarcated by the red outline in the Plan. He noted at the premises was primarily a hotel with a restaurant and bar. The bar would be open to non-residents, but access to the bar would be restricted after 11 PM and would require using a secure key card, or entry on demand.

Referring to the Plan on Page 13 of the Additional Information Pack, Mr Shield stated that this was indicative of the layout of the bedrooms of which there would be approximately 290 over the 19 floors of the development. Mr Shield then referred the Sub Committee to the indicative menu on Page 19 of the Additional Information Pack, along with several photographs that were indicative of the layout of the bar, restaurant, and reception area in a typical Premier Inn.

Regarding the Licensing Objectives, in particular, the Prevention of Public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

APPENDIX 1

FULL DECISION

WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE NO. 3

(“The Committee”)

Thursday, 27 January 2021

Membership:       Councillor Jim Glen (Chairman), Councillor Barbara Arzymanow and Councillor Aicha Less

Officer Support:  Legal Advisor:                               Horatio Chance

                             Policy Officer:                                 Aaron Hardy

                             Committee Officers:                            Cameron MacLean

                             Presenting Officer:                               Jessica Donovan 

APPLICATION FOR A NEW PREMISES LICENCE – PREMIER INN (DEVELOPMENT SITE AT PADDINGTON EXCHANGE), NORTH WHARF ROAD, LONDON W2 1LF [20/10150/LIPN]

FULL DECISION

Premises

Premier Inn (development site at Paddington Exchange), North Wharf Rd, London W2 1LF

Applicant

Whitbread Group Plc

Cumulative Impact Area?

N/A

Ward

Hyde Park

Proposed Licensable Activities and Hours

Films (Indoors)

Monday to Thursday:         10:00 hours to 23:30 hours

Friday to Saturday:            10:00 hours to 00:00 hours

Sunday:                             12:00 hours to 22:30 hours

Seasonal variations/non-standard timings –

·       To extend the licensing hours to New Year’s Eve 10:00 hours to New Year’s Day 00.30 (being 2^nd January).

Late Night Refreshment (Indoors and Outdoors)

Monday to Thursday:         23:00 hours to 23:30 hours

Friday to Saturday:            23:00 hours to 00:00 hours

Sunday:                             N/A

Seasonal variations/non-standard timings –

·       To extend the licensing hours to New Year’s Eve 10:00 hours to New Year’s Day 00.30 hours (being 2nd January).

Sale by Retail of Alcohol (On and Off-sales)

Residents

Monday to Sunday: 00:00 hours to 00:00 hours

Sale by Retail of Alcohol (On and Off-sales)

Non-Residents

Monday to Thursday:         10:00 hours to 23:30 hours

Friday to Saturday:            10:00 hours to 00:00 hours

Sunday:        12:00 hours to 22:30 hours

Seasonal variations/non-standard timings –

·       To extend the licensing hours to New Year’s Eve 10:00 hours to New Year’s Day 00.30 hours (being 2^nd January).

Hours Premises Are Open to the Public

Residents

Monday to Sunday:           00:00 hours to 00:00 hours [the Premises trades as a hotel]

Hours Premises Are Open to the Public

Non-Residents

Monday to Thursday:        06:00 – 00:00

Friday to Saturday:            06:00 – 00:30

Sunday:                             06:00 – 23:00

Seasonal variations/non-standard timings –

·       To extend the licensing hours to New Year’s Eve 10:00 hours to New Year’s Day 00.30 hours (being 2nd January).

Representations Received

·       Environmental Health Service (Anil Drayan)

·       Metropolitan Police Service (PC Reaz Guerra) (withdrawn)

·       South East Bayswater Residents’ Association (John Zamit)

·       Paddington Waterways & Maida Vale Society (Elizabeth Virgo)

Summary of Objections

·       Environmental Health noted that the hours requested for the supply of alcohol (both on and off-sales), late-night refreshment and provision of film ‘indoors’ may all lead to an increase in public nuisance in the area;

·       Metropolitan Police stated that there was insufficient detail within the operating schedule to promote the Licensing Objectives;

·       SEBRA expressed concerns that nuisance could be caused to residents, and others living in the vicinity, by noise and disturbance by patrons arriving or leaving the large bar and restaurant in the hotel. SEBRA also expressed concerns on a number of other potential issues with the application;

·       PWMVA’s representation was made on the basis that the likely impact of the application, if granted, would be to harm the licensing objective of prevention of public nuisance

Summary of Application  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Present:                       Stan Middleton, General Manager, Puppet Theatre Barge & Rob Humphreys, Secretary of the Board of Trustees for Art of the Puppet Ltd (for the applicant); Richard Brown, Citizens Advice Westminster (representing residents); and Sonia Shah, Lucy Evans & Harriet Sergeant (residents)

Representations:        Representations had been received from the Environmental Health Service (EHS); the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS);[1] and residents.

Applicant:                    Art of the Puppet Ltd

Ward:                           Little Venice

CIA[2]:                             Not applicable

Summary of Application

The application was for a variation of a premises licence.

INTRODUCTION

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the Members of the Sub Committee and the Council Officers who would be supporting the Sub Committee. He stated that Cllr Arzymanow, as a local resident, had declared an interest in this item and had recused herself from hearing the application. The Chairman then explained the procedure that would be followed at the meeting before inviting the Presenting Officer, Ms Jessica Donovan, to present the report.

PRESENTATIONS AND SUBMISSIONS

Ms Jessica Donovan, Senior Licensing Officer

Ms Donovan summarised the application as set out in the report before the Sub Committee. She stated that the applicant would be represented by Mr Rob Middleton, General Manager, Puppet Theatre Barge, and Rob Humphreys, Secretary of the Board of Trustees for Art of the Puppet Ltd. She noted that, during the consultation period, the applicant had amended the application for the sale of alcohol on Sundays from 10:00 hours to 12:00 hours.

Ms Donovan reported that representations had been received from the Environmental Health Service (EHS) and local residents. Mr Richard Brown of Citizens Advice Westminster, Licensing Project, would be representing the Paddington Waterways & Maida Vale Society (PWMVS) and the Southeast Bayswater Residents’ Association (SEBRA).

A further submission had been received from Mr Richard Brown and other interested parties and these are been included in the Additional Information Pack circulated to the various parties.

In conclusion, as Donovan noted that the premises was located within the Little Venice Ward and was not within a cumulative impact area.

Mr Stan Middleton, General Manager, Puppet Theatre Barge

Mr Middleton stated that he would start his presentation by providing some background information on the Theatre and what the Theatre hoped to achieve.

He stated that the Puppet Theatre Barge was a family run business which started in 1982 and operated from a converted Thames lighter (barge), which had been converted into a double-bridge string marionette theatre. The Theatre’s Patron was Sir Michael Palin, KCMG CBE FRGS. Originally, the theatre was moored at Camden Lock but had relocated to Little Venice in 1988 where it was moored for most of the year apart from a few months in the summer when it visited Richmond-upon-Thames.

The Theatre specialised in long string of marionettes i.e., string puppets that had a tradition stretching back to the 17^th-century; there being just one other theatre in the country which regularly presented performances using this art form. The Theatre had managed to keep going in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

APPENDIX 2

FULL DECISION

WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE NO.3
(“The Committee”)

Thursday, 27 January 2021

Membership:           Councillor Jim Glen (Chairman) and Councillor Aicha Less

Officer Support:      Legal Advisor:                           Horatio Chance

                                  Policy Officer:                             Aaron Hardy

                                  Committee Officers:                        Cameron MacLean

                                  Presenting Officer:                           Jessica Donovan

APPLICATION FOR A VARIATION OF A PREMISES LICENCE – PUPPET THEATRE BARGE, BLOMFIELD ROAD, LONDON W9 2PF – 20/09771/LIPV

FULL DECISION

Premises

Puppet Theatre Barge, Blomfield Road, London W9 2PF 

Applicant

Art of the Puppet Limited

Cumulative Impact Area?

N/A

Ward

Little Venice

Proposed Licensable Activities and Hours

The application was for a variation of a premises licence as follows –

The applicant seeks to vary the existing premises licence to add the exhibition of films to the existing permitted regulated entertainment and the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption on the premises.

Exhibition of films

Monday to Sunday:           10:00 hours to 22:00 hours

Sale by Retail of Alcohol (on sales)

Monday to Saturday:         10:00 hours to 22:00 hours

Sunday:                             12:00 hours to 22:00 hours

Representations Received

·       Environmental Health (Dave Newitt)

·       Metropolitan Police (PC Bryan Davis) (withdrawn)

·       Mrs S Ling (local resident)

·       Mr E Allchin (local resident)

·       Mrs J Drew (local resident)

·       Mrs C Chatway (local resident)

·       Mr K Remme (local resident)

·       Councillor Melvyn Caplan

·       Mrs L Evans (local resident)

·       Mrs Lizete Forrest (local resident)

·       Ms D Tanaka (local resident)

·       Miss J Magner (local resident)

·       Mrs P Congreve (local resident)

·       Paddington Waterways and Maida Vale Society

·       H Sergeant (local resident)

Summary of Objections

·       Environmental Health were concerned that the proposals were likely to increase the risk of public nuisance and may impact on public safety. EHS noted that the application to add the exhibit of films was relatively uncontroversial;

·       Local residents noted that the area was quiet and residential, that it was a children’s venue that did not require an alcoholic licence, and had concerns about the adequacy of toilet and waste disposal facilities

Summary of Application

The Committee has determined an application for a Variation of Premises Licence under the Licensing Act 2003 (“The Act”).  Puppet Theatre Barge is a long-established and highly respected Puppet Theatre operating from a barge moored at Little Venice providing entertainment for children and adults. The applicant seeks to vary the existing premises licence to add the exhibition of films to the existing permitted regulated entertainment and the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption ON the Premises. The Premises have had the benefit of a premises licence since December 2005. Following consultation with the Metropolitan Police, the applicant amended the start time for the sale of alcohol on Sundays from 10:00 to 12:00 hours. The Premises is not located in any area of Cumulative Impact

Policy Position

Under Policy HRS1, applications for hours within the core hours will generally be granted subject to not being contrary to other policies in the SLP. Applications for hours outside the core hours will be considered on their merits, subject to other policies in the SLP.

Under Policy CCSOS1, applications outside the West  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.