Hello everyone.
I went to the CAP meeting last night . The minutes will be circulated at a later date but some interesting points arose which may concern us as an association as well as individually..
Someone from the Licensing Dept was invited .She went through the 4 grounds on which it's possible to make representations against a licence application (prevention of crime & disorder etc ) , as stated on the website , and gave some general information.
There was discussion about the increasing no of applications for late night licences in the High St / Church St areas particularly. It emerged that the council are bound to grant licences IF THERE ARE NO REPRESENTATIONS, which I hadn't realised. As well as making representations when the initial application is made, we can also complain to the enforcement officers if we feel that the terms / conditions of a licence are being broken (we can do this through our councillors if we wish ) . The premises will then be visited , although this will take time. If it's serious enough we can ask for the licence to be reviewed in which case it would go before a licensing sub- committee.
It was stressed that licensing officers are neutral . Louisa, who was at the meeting , pointed out that councillors can respond to and offer support re issues and concerns we raise but they are not allowed to instigate complaints etc themselves.
Re some specific applications - The Shipwreck -179 High Street . (mentioned in previous emails) They are applying for 6 a m licences every day . The final date for submission of representations is now the 7th Feb not 18th Jan.(this was due to be altered on the website today)
There is also a licence application for the basement premises of 86 High St. to open until 2a m Fridays - Sundays. Closing date is 4th Feb.
The question of public safety issues / late night noise / public nuisance / possibility of crime & disorder / safeguarding of children / obviously will loom larger for those of us who live closest to the late -opening venues but we will all experience the knock -on effect and ,if we wish to , we are all entitled to make representations as we live 'in the vicinity' of these venues.
It remains for LARA to decide which issues it intends to take up as an association. I don't know how feasible it would be re licensing issues anyway , due to the time factor, as there is only a 21 (or 28 - can't remember !) day slot to make representations after the application is publicised .(it was suggested at the meeting that it's a good idea to check out the new applications on the Council website on a weekly basis - as well as the Gazette & Hackney Today) Those of us who are concerned can obviously act as individuals ,with the possibility of more objections having a greater impact on the licensing sub- committees.
Best wishes
Anne (LARA committee member)
This link gives more info about what CAP (Community Action Panel) Meetings are all about:
Having lived in Stoke Newington for over 20 years, I'm obviously concerned about what's happening, what's new and what might affect our general quality of living here. However, just because somewhere opens until 2am doesn't guarantee there will automatically be issues around 'crime & disorder, safeguarding of children, public nuisance' etc. I always wonder why people move into areas like Notting Hill, then complain about the 'disruption' of the carnival. Stoke Newington has long been an area with a vibrant social and cultural mix, of which clubs and bars have been an important part. Venues have to conform to the rules set out in their licenses and if they don't, I'd suggest that then is the time to complain.
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