Agenda and minutes

Resolved:  That Councillor Boyce be elected as Chair of the meeting.

At this point in the meeting, Members were asked to declare any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests that they might have had in the business on the agenda. None were received.

To approve and sign the minutes of Licensing Hearings held on 2^nd October 2013 and 24^th October 2013.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Licensing Hearings held on 2 October 2013 and 24 October 2013 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Members considered an application by Mr Hayati Kucukkoylu for a Licence Variation for Macumba, 3 Coffee Yard, York.

In coming to their decision, Members took into consideration all of the evidence and submissions that were presented to them and determined their relevance to the issues raised and the licensing objectives.

The following were taken into account:

1 .     The application form.

2.      The Licensing Manager’s report and her comments made at the Hearing. She advised that the application was to vary the existing licence to include the extension of the opening hours, and to amend certain conditions included in the current licence to allow the use of the outside courtyard after midnight and to vary the occupancy capacity.

3.           The representations made at the hearing by the applicant. They advised that the premises was not located in the Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) or any special policy area. In reference to the capacity of the venue, they advised the panel that the limit for 100 people within the premises was set by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue. In addition, they wanted to alter the number of covers to be 24 rather than 12 on the first floor and 12 on the second floor, this was in order to spread the tables and seats across the premises when events such as Salsa Dancing Classes took place to create a dance floor area. In relation to representations from North Yorkshire Police and Environmental Protection Unit (EPU) they questioned the Police’s statistics as it was not clear whether the Anti Social Behaviour incidents were specifically alcohol related. In regards to comments from EPU about musical disturbance they confirmed that there had only been one incident during the summer heatwave. This was because the premises did not have Air Conditioning and this had now been rectified. They also confirmed that there would always be the possibility for some noise in the courtyard given that this was used as a cut through.

4.           The representations made in writing and at the hearing by North Yorkshire Police. They advised the Committee that the area in which Macumba was located, Back Swinegate, was proposed to be located within the CIZ, due to it being a hotspot for crimes within the city centre. This area constituted for 8% of crime and Anti Social Behaviour incidents in the city centre and there was a peak in crimes between 11 pm and 2 am. They also commented that removal of tables inside the premises and increasing hours would change the nature of the premises to a primarily drinking/nightclub style establishment which would attract a different type of clientele. They also felt there was a saturation of bars in that area and the increase of 25 people in an establishment where drinking was the primary focus would overstretch Police patrols.

5.           The representations made in writing and at the hearing by the Council’s Environmental Protection Unit. They explained that on Noise Patrols they had found that the nuisance levels  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.