The Licensing Sub-Committee of Barking and Dagenham Council met on Thursday 12 September 2024 to consider an application for a new premises licence for Aroma, located at 951 Green Lane, Dagenham. The committee granted the application for the premises licence, subject to amendments and agreed conditions.

Application for a Premises Licence: Aroma, 951 Green Lane, Dagenham

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a new premises licence for Aroma, a restaurant at 951 Green Lane, Dagenham, RM8 1AD, made by Jed Tech London Ltd. The application sought permission to sell alcohol and provide late-night refreshments.

The application initially proposed alcohol sales from 9am to 11:45pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to 1:45am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9am to 10:45pm on Sundays. Late-night refreshments were requested until 11:45pm Monday to Thursday, and 1:45am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The application received eight representations against it: one from the Whalebone Ward Councillors (Cllrs Andrew Achilleos, Glenda Paddle, and Mukhtar Yusuf) and seven from local residents. The primary concerns raised by the objectors related to:

• Prevention of Crime and Disorder: Fears of increased anti-social behaviour, potential conflict between customers of existing establishments and the new venue, and a strain on local police resources.
• Public Safety: Concerns about the proximity to Robert Clack School, the potential for increased traffic congestion during school drop-off and pick-up times, and the safety of children and women passing the premises late at night.
• Prevention of Public Nuisance: Worries about noise from late-night operations, potential littering and urination in the vicinity, and the impact of increased traffic and customer congregation on local residents.
• Protection of Children from Harm: Concerns about the sale of alcohol near a school and the potential for vulnerable young people to be exposed to intoxicated individuals.

During the consultation process, amendments to the application were agreed between the applicant and the Metropolitan Police, and the Council's Environmental Protection Team. These agreements led to the withdrawal of representations from both the Police and Environmental Health.

Key amendments agreed with the Police included:

• Reducing the terminal hour for licensable activity to 11:45pm Monday to Saturday, with the venue closing at midnight.
• A condition that alcohol would only be served to customers paying for a table meal or purchasing a takeaway, with an exception for up to eight people at the bar awaiting a table or takeaway.
• The removal of conditions relating to SIA licensed door supervisors at certain times, with the applicant agreeing to conduct risk assessments for their necessity.

Amendments agreed with Environmental Health addressed concerns about late-night refreshment hours, noise levels, parking, and dispersal of customers. These included:

• The applicant confirming access to parking at the rear of the premises and a public car park opposite.
• The implementation of a dispersal policy and staff training to manage customer departure.
• The installation of a sound-limiting device and ensuring windows and external doors remain closed after 9pm.
• The provision of a direct telephone number for the manager to be available to residents and businesses.
• Loudspeakers not being located at entrances or outside the building.

Despite these agreements, a formal resolution was not reached with the interested parties.

The Sub-Committee heard representations from the Ward Councillors, an interested party, and the applicant's representative. The applicant's representative addressed the concerns raised, highlighting the extensive conditions within the operating schedule, the restaurant's focus on dining rather than solely alcohol consumption, and the proposed measures to mitigate potential issues.

Additional conditions were offered by the applicant, including:

• On any school day, no one under 18 would be permitted on the premises before 4pm unless accompanied by an adult.
• Moving the start time for the sale of alcohol to 11:00am.
• The implementation of the 'Ask for Angela' and 'Ask for Clive' schemes.

After considering all representations and the amended application, the Sub-Committee resolved to grant the premises licence. The committee was satisfied that the agreed variations and conditions adequately addressed the concerns regarding the four licensing objectives.