PAPER A2

Purpose : For Decision

Committee: LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE

Date: 16 SEPTEMBER 2005

Title: APPLICATION FOR CONVERSION AND VARIATION OF PREMISES LICENCE – THE LONGSHOREMAN, 12 THE ESPLANADE, SHANKLIN, ISLE OF WIGHT

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF CONSUMER PROTECTION

____________________________________________________________________

1. DETAILS OF THE APPLICATION

Applicant

Mr William J C Downer and Mrs Lorraine Abbott

Premises

The Longshoreman, 12 Esplanade, Shanklin, Isle of Wight

Conversion & Variation Application

This application is for a conversion of the Premises Licence during the transitional period under Schedule 8 paragraph 2(2) of the Licensing Act 2003 and for a simultaneous variation of the licence under Schedule 8 paragraph 7(1) (b) of the Licensing Act 2003 (Appendix A)

The Operating Schedule shows:

Designated Premises Supervisor

Mr William Downer

	Provision of Regulated Entertainment	Hours of Licensable Activities

(a)	Plays	N/A
(b)	Films	N/A
(c)	Indoor Sporting Events	20:00 hours to 24:00 hours (September to May only) for darts league and crib matches and possible pool matches in the future, only where attended by an audience.
(d)	Boxing or Wrestling	N/A
(e)	Live Music	N/A
(f)	Recorded music	N/A
(g)	Performances of Dance	N/A
(h)	Anything similar to (e) (f) (g) above	Monday to Saturday 20:15 hours to 23:00 hours, and Sundays 15:00 hours to 18:00 hours and 20:15 hours to 23:00 hours. Bank Holidays, Christmas & Easter, Shanklin Regatta and Carnival nights until 24:00 hours, (live and recorded music, usually a soloist or duo, or radio for background music, and karaoke). The music will usually be indoors, and only outdoors in the summer in good weather.

	Provision of Entertainment Facilities

(i)	making music	Days and times as above, (provision of karaoke machine)
(j)	dancing	N/A
(k)	entertainment similar to (i) & (j) above	N/A

	Late Night Refreshment	23:00 hours to 24:00 hours all days (no hot food, only tea and coffee)

	Supply of Alcohol	All days 09:00 hours to 24:00 hours. Christmas, Easter, Bank Holidays, Regatta and Carnival days until 01:00 hours, for consumption on and off the premises.

	Other Times Premises Proposed To Be Open To The Public	All days 09:00 hours to 00:30 hours. Christmas, Easter, Bank Holidays, Carnival and Regatta nights until 01:30 hours to allow for 30 minutes drinking up time.

	Conditions to be removed	N/A

Steps to promote the licensing objectives

General

The Prevention of Crime & Disorder

The type of clientele which the premises attract have not caused any problems in the past. It is not believed that any additional steps are necessary at present.

Public Safety

There is no outdoor play equipment, no car parking, and the premises do not have firework displays. The need to comply with health & Safety legislation is understood, and it is not believed that any additional steps are necessary.

The Prevention of Public Nuisance

The type of entertainment provided is by way of a soloist or duo, and possibly karaoke in the future. It is not intended to utilise the later hours on a regular basis. All windows are double glazed, and the majority face out to sea, as does the front door.

The Protection of Children From Harm

No children are allowed in the bar area, except to access the family room and toilets. Photographic identification is asked for when in doubt as to anyone’s age.

2. LOCATION AND SITE CHARACTERISTICS

The premise is a public house situated in a tourist area on Shanklin sea front at the end of the Esplanade. On and off-sales of alcohol currently take place, and food is also provided.

3. RELEVANT REPRESENTATIONS

Responsible Authorities

Police	No outstanding representations

Environmental Health Officer	No outstanding representations

Fire Safety Officer	No outstanding representations

Planning Officer	No outstanding representations

Trading Standards Officer	No outstanding representations

Health & Safety	No outstanding representations

Children’s Services	No outstanding representations

Interested Parties

Objection letters from:	Mrs J Leney 10 Waverley Court, Esplanade, Shanklin, IW Andrew & Alison Craddock Flat 1 Waverley Court, Esplanade, Shanklin, IW Denis & Marion Beare 7 Waverley Court, Esplanade, Shanklin, IW (Appendix B)

4. LOCAL POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

It is considered that the following policies from the Council’s Licensing Authority’s Statement of Licensing Policy, 2004 to 2007 have a bearing upon the application.

Members’ attention in respect of this particular application is drawn to:

Clause 1	Licensing Objectives	All
Clause 2	Introduction
Clause 3	Integration of Strategies and Other Legislation	3.4, 3.9 and 3.11
Clause 4	Approach to Licensing Applications	all
Clause 5	Cumulative Effect
Clause 6	Representation, Reviews and Appeals	6.1, 6.4, 6.6
Clause 7	Enforcement
Clause 8	Operating Schedules	8.5, 8.13 to 8.20 inclusive

5. NATIONAL GUIDANCE

National guidance regarding control of areas outside the premises is as follows:

“The conditions attached to various authorisations will be focused on matters which are within the control of individual licensees and others in possession of relevant authorisations. Accordingly, these matters will centre on the premises being used for licensable activities and the vicinity of those premises. Whether or not incidents can be regarded as being “in the vicinity” of licensed premises is a question of fact and will depend on the particular circumstances of the case.

In addressing this matter, the licensing authority will primarily focus on the direct impact of the activities taking place at the licensed premises on members of public living, working or engaged in normal activity in the area concerned.

Licensing law is not the primary mechanism for the general control of nuisance and antisocial behaviour by individuals once they are away from the licensed premises and, therefore, beyond the direct control of the individual, club or business holding the licence, certificate or authorisation concerned. Nonetheless, it is a key aspect of such control and licensing law will always be part of a holistic approach to the management of the evening and night-time economy in town and city centres.”

National guidance regarding licensing hours is as follows:

“With regard to licensing hours consideration, which will be given to the individual merits of an application. The Government strongly recommends that Licensing Authorities should recognise that longer licensing hours with regard to the sale of alcohol are important to ensure that the concentrations of customers leaving premises simultaneously are avoided. This is necessary to reduce the friction at late night fast food outlets, taxi ranks and other sources of transport, which lead to disorder and disturbance. The Government also wants to ensure that licensing hours should not inhibit the development of thriving and safe evening and night-time local economies which are important for investment and employment locally and attractive to domestic and international tourists without compromising the ability to resource local services associated with the night-time economy. Providing consumers with greater choice and flexibility is an important consideration.”

National guidance regarding non-duplication of other regimes is as follows:

“Planning, building control and licensing regimes will be properly separated, to avoid duplication and inefficiency. Applications for premises licences for permanent commercial premises should normally be from businesses with planning consent for the property concerned. Licensing applications should not be a re-run of the planning application and should not cut across decisions taken by the local authority planning committee or following appeals against decisions taken by that committee. Similarly, the granting by the licensing committee of any variation of a licence which involves a material alteration to a building would not relieve the applicant of the need to apply for planning permission or building control where appropriate.

There should be a firm commitment to avoid duplication with other regulatory regimes so far as possible. Conditions in respect of public safety should only be attached to premises licences and club premises certificates that are “necessary” for the promotion of that licensing objective and if already provided for in other legislations, they cannot be considered necessary in the context of licensing law. Such regulations will not however always cover the unique circumstances that arise in connection with licensable activities, particularly regulated entertainment, at specific premises and tailored conditions may be necessary.”

6. IMPLICATIONS UNDER THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1998

Members are advised that this application must be considered against the background of the implications of the Human Rights Act 1998.

There are three convention rights, which need to be considered in this context:

(a) Article 6 Right to a Fair Trial –

In the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any criminal charge against him, everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law.

It has been held that the fact that there is a right of appeal to the Magistrates’ Court from any decision of the Licensing Authority is sufficient to make the Council’s licensing system compliant with the convention rights.

(b) Article 8 Right to Respect for Private and Family Life –

Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence. In the case of article 8 there shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except as such in accordance with the law and is necessary on a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic wellbeing of the country, for the prevention of disorder and crime, for the protection of health or morals or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. In the case of Article 1 of the first protocol it states that “no one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and the general principles of international law. The preceding provisions (of which articles 6 and 8 are but two) shall not however in any way impair the right of the state to enforce such laws as it deems necessary to control the use of the property in accordance with general interest or to secure the payment of taxes or other contributions or penalties”.

Article 8 is relevant in this case, as the Sub-Committee must balance the rights of the applicant to run their business in the way they wish, with the rights of the neighbours not to be unreasonably disturbed.

A licence is viewed as a possession thus also making Article 1 relevant in this case.

The Licensing Authority acknowledges the right of businesses in its area to operate, but equally acknowledges the fact that this must be balanced against the rights of residents not to be disturbed by unreasonable noise and nuisance caused by licensed premises. The Licensing Authority needs to be clear as to the rights granted and the need to ensure that the reasons given for any interference are proportionate and in accordance with the Council’s legitimate aim.

7. OBSERVATIONS

The Licensing Sub-Committee is obliged to determine this application with a view to promoting the licensing objectives, which are:

· The prevention of crime and disorder

· Public safety

· The prevention of public nuisance

· The protection of children from harm

In making its decision, the Licensing Sub-Committee is also obliged to have regard to national guidance and the Council’s own Licensing Policy.

Of course, the Licensing Sub-Committee must also have regard to all of the representations made and the evidence it hears.

The Licensing Sub-Committee must take such of the following steps as it considers necessary for the promotion of the licensing objectives:

i. Grant the application as requested.

ii. Modify the conditions of the licence by altering or omitting or adding to them, such conditions as suggested by the applicant.

iii. Reject the whole or part of the application.

The Licensing Sub-Committee is asked to note that it may not modify the conditions or reject the whole or part of the application merely because it considers it desirable to do so. It must actually be necessary in order to promote the licensing objectives.

As to the representations raised:

The Prevention of Crime & Disorder

No representations raised.

Prevention of Public Nuisance

The objectors are concerned about the potential noise and anti-social behaviour that may be caused as a result of the extended hours, especially when people are leaving the premises.

Public Safety

No representations raised

Protection of Children From Harm

No representations raised

The Head of Consumer Protection’s opinion is that all matters can be dealt with by conditions and do not amount to sufficient grounds to refuse the variation outright.

Nonetheless it is a matter for the Licensing Sub-Committee to determine in the light of the above matters and any other matters it considers material.

8. APPENDICES ATTACHED

A.	Application form with attachments
B.	Objection letters
C.	Map showing location of premises in relation to surrounding area

9. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The premise currently holds a Justices’ on-licence allowing the sale by retail of alcohol to the public for consumption on and off the premises during the hours of Monday to Saturday 10:00 hours to 23:00 hours, Sundays and Good Friday 12:00 hours to 22:30 hours.

In summary, the applicants require the licensing of indoor sport for certain occasions until midnight, the provision of regulated entertainment until 23:00 hours, hot drink sales until midnight, and an additional hour for the sale of alcohol.

Contact Point:

Sarah MacDonald

Ext 5156

ROB OWEN

Head of Consumer Protection