Here is a summary of the items scheduled for discussion by the Licensing Sub-Committee. The meeting included a discussion of a premises licence application. Councillors David Barker (Joint Chair of the Licensing Committee), Talib Hussain and Maroof Raouf (Chair of the Admissions Committee & Deputy Chair of the Audit and Standards Committee) were scheduled to be in attendance.

Licensing Act 2003: 33 Ball Street

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider a report from the Chief Licensing Officer regarding an application for a new premises licence made under the Licensing Act 2003 for 33 Ball Street.

The applicant is Events K Limited. The application requests permission to operate the premises as a restaurant (A3¹), bar (A4²) and takeaway (A5³).

The report pack noted that the premises had previously been licensed as Graffiti Bar, but that licence had lapsed when the previous licence holder's company was dissolved. Since then, the premises had been operating under Temporary Event Notices.

The report pack stated that the applicant had agreed conditions with Environmental Protection Services, agreed to retain originally requested operating hours, and removed live music from the application.

The application was referred to the sub-committee due to an unresolved representation from a local resident.

The report pack included the following recommendation:

That Members carefully consider the representations made and take such steps as the Sub Committee consider appropriate for the promotion of the Licensing Objectives.

The report pack also listed the options available to the committee, which were:

• Grant the premises licence in the terms requested.
• Grant the premises licence with conditions.
• Reject the whole or part of the application.

The report pack included copies of the following documents:

• The application documents and plan
• The previous lapsed premises licence
• Agreed conditions
• The unresolved representation
• The notice of hearing and regulations

The application form included the following details:

• The applicant, Ruth Jessica Atkinson, is applying as a director of Events K Limited.
• The business is registered with Companies House with the registration number 16071954.
• The premises licence is requested to start on 1 August 2025.
• The premises are described as a restaurant, bar and takeaway.

• The requested timings for films, live music, recorded music, performances of dance, late night refreshment and the supply of alcohol are as follows:

  • Monday to Thursday: 11:00 to 23:00
  • Friday and Saturday: 11:00 to 00:30
  • Sunday: 11:00 to 23:00

• The requested hours for late night refreshment are:

  • Monday to Thursday: 23:00 to 23:30
  • Friday and Saturday: 23:00 to 00:30
  • Sunday: 23:00 to 23:30

• The requested hours for the supply of alcohol are:

  • Monday to Thursday: 10:00 to 23:00
  • Friday and Saturday: 10:00 to 00:30
  • Sunday: 10:00 to 23:00

• The sale of alcohol would be for consumption on and off the premises.

• The designated premises supervisor is Sarah Louise Shutt.

• The hours the premises are open to the public are:

  • Monday to Thursday: 09:00 to 23:30
  • Friday and Saturday: 09:00 to 00:30
  • Sunday: 09:00 to 23:00

The steps the applicant intends to take to promote the four licensing objectives[^5] are:

• Prevention of crime and disorder: Alcoholic drinks may not be removed in open containers, customers carrying opened bottles will not be admitted, a CCTV system will be in use at all times, and a refusal log and incident log will be maintained.
• Public safety: The premises will comply with the requirements of the Fire Officer, and a residual current device will protect the electrical power serving all amplified equipment.
• Prevention of public nuisance: Notices will be displayed requesting the public to respect the needs of local residents.
• Protection of children from harm: No films or videos will be shown that can be viewed by persons under the age of any applicable BBFC/Local Authority certification, and children under the age of 16 shall not be permitted to enter or remain at the premises after 22:00 unless with an adult or attending a pre-booked function.

The previous lapsed premises licence, SY2325PR, authorised the following:

• Any playing of recorded music
• Provision of late night refreshment
• The supply of alcohol

The times the licence authorised the carrying out of licensable activities were:

• Playing of recorded music: Friday and Saturday from 23:00 to 01:30
• Late night refreshment: Sunday to Thursday from 23:00 to 23:30, Friday and Saturday from 23:00 to 01:30, and on public holidays and New Year's Eve from 23:00 to 01:00
• Supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises only: Sunday to Thursday from 09:00 to 23:30, Friday and Saturday from 09:00 to 01:00, and on public holidays and New Year's Eve from 09:00 to 01:00

The opening hours of the premises were:

• Sunday to Thursday: 09:00 to 23:30
• Friday and Saturday: 09:00 to 01:30
• Public holidays: 09:00 to 01:00
• New Year's Eve: 09:00 to 01:30

The conditions agreed by the applicant were:

• Live music was withdrawn entirely from the application, but the premises retain the right to have live music in accordance with the deregulation afforded by the Live Music Act for premises licensed to supply alcohol.
• The Designated Premises Supervisor or a delegated member of staff must take a pro-active approach to noise control.
• Customers' use of the external areas for seated and drinking purposes shall cease at 22:00 on all days.
• The premises shall operate as a restaurant, and the provision of alcohol shall be ancillary to dining only.
• All doors and windows shall be closed to 22:00 on all days, save for access, egress or in case of emergencies.
• Alcoholic drinks may not be removed from the premises in open containers save for consumption in external areas provided for that purpose.
• No customers carrying opened bottles of alcoholic drink upon entry shall be admitted to premises at any time the premises are open to the public.
• A CCTV system will be fitted, maintained and in use at all times.
• A refusal log and incident log will be maintained and audited by management.
• Notices shall be displayed requesting the public to respect the needs of the local residents.
• Children under the age of 16 shall not be permitted to enter or remain at the premises after 22:00 unless with an adult or attending a pre-booked function.

The unresolved representation from a local resident stated that they wished to oppose the longer licensing hours due to ongoing noise issues every weekend from other establishments in the area. They also raised concerns about litter and patrons not respecting the 'please be quiet' signs. The resident also noted that benches on Ball Street tend to be a waiting and smoking place when the bar has turned out, and that they had been subject to a large group of football fans chanting in the early hours.