The Licensing Committee of Redbridge Council was scheduled to discuss the outcomes of various licensing appeals, an update on licensing applications, and a report on unlicensed music and shisha establishments. The meeting's agenda also included a review of previous minutes and future meeting dates.

Results of Appeals

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the results of licensing appeals. This included information on the revocation of the premises licence for Melin Enterprises Ltd, located at 692-694 Chigwell Rd, Woodford Green, IG8 8AL, following a decision by District Judge Donegan at Romford Magistrates Court. The licence had been revoked in January 2021 by the Licensing Sub-Committee due to breaches related to Covid-19 regulations.

Additionally, the report pack detailed the case of Cebo Avci (t/a Yagmur Supermarket) at 77 Cranbrook Road, Ilford. The premises licence for this location was revoked after Trading Standards initiated a review following two convictions for underage alcohol sales and further convictions for selling smuggled tobacco. An appeal by Cebo Avci was withdrawn on 9 January 2023, leading to the licence's revocation.

The ongoing appeal for the premises licence of The General Havelock, located at 229 High Rd, Ilford IG1 1NE, was also scheduled to be discussed, with a hearing due on 29 March 2023.

Licensing Application Update

A report was scheduled to provide an update on licensing applications. This included a financial overview of licensing income for the financial years 2021/22 and 2022/23. The income streams detailed covered various application types, including new premises and club applications, variations, licence reviews, transfers, and personal licence applications. The report also presented income generated from other licensing activities such as massage and special treatments, fireworks, dog boarding, pet shops, street trading, and scrap metal sites.

The report indicated a slight decrease in total income from applications in 2022/23 compared to the previous year, falling from £24,065.50 to £23,342.50. However, overall income, including other licensing activities, showed an increase, with a total received/invoiced amount of £227,189.50 in 2021/22 and £250,245.00 in 2022/23. The report noted that the majority of fees are statutory and set by central government to recover processing costs.

Unlicensed Music and Shisha Update

The committee was set to receive an update regarding unlicensed music events and shisha establishments. This item was prompted by a question from Councillor Ruth K. Clark, who raised concerns about unregulated events, such as birthday parties, potentially occurring in temporary marquees or unlicensed venues. Councillor Clark highlighted that such events, unlike those held on licensed premises, would not be subject to regulations like CCTV, security staff, or defined closure times, potentially leaving the borough vulnerable to unsafe events and associated crime.

The report pack explained that events on licensed premises, even if described as parties, would be subject to the conditions of the premises licence. Temporary Event Notices (TENs) might be used to extend operating hours for such events, with objections only permissible from the Police and Environmental Health. The report clarified that events held in marquees or unlicensed premises where licensable activities were taking place could be considered Unlicensed Music Events (UMEs) or raves. The Metropolitan Police are responsible for intervening in UMEs, as the Licensing Team does not operate an out-of-hours response team and lacks the statutory power to close them down. The report defined a rave under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 as a gathering of 20 or more people where amplified music is played at night, likely to cause serious distress to local inhabitants.

Regarding shisha establishments, the report stated that shisha smoking itself is not a licensable activity. However, the Health Act 2006 mandates that premises must be smoke-free, with specific regulations concerning the 50% rule for open spaces to allow smoke to escape. Environmental Health officers enforce this legislation. The report noted that there were 12 shisha premises in the borough, with 7 compliant, 4 under investigation, and one pending prosecution. It was also highlighted that while the supply of shisha tobacco is not licensable, smoking it in contravention of the Health Act 2006 could engage the licensing objectives of crime and disorder, and public safety due to health implications.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The committee was scheduled to review and potentially sign the minutes of the previous Licensing Committee meeting held on 13 June 2022.

Future Meetings

The dates for future Licensing Committee meetings were to be confirmed. These were scheduled for 13 June 2023, 11 September 2023, 16 January 2024, and 13 March 2024, subject to agreement by the Council at its meeting on 23 March 2023.