The Licensing Sub-Committee, chaired by Councillor Akash Nayee, is scheduled to convene to discuss an application for a variation to a premises licence for Hanoi Vietnamese Restaurant and Cocktail Bar at 14 Savoy Crescent. The application seeks to extend the restaurant's opening hours and licensable activities. Councillors Keith McLean and Paul Trendall are also scheduled to be in attendance.

Here's a breakdown of the key items on the agenda:

Application for Variation to Premises Licence - Hanoi Restaurant

The sub-committee is scheduled to consider an application for a full variation of the premises licence for Hanoi Vietnamese Restaurant and Cocktail Bar. The application requests permission for:

• Supply of Alcohol: 11:00 to 03:30, Monday to Sunday.
• Live and Recorded Music: From the end of permitted hours until 04:30 the following day on Boxing Day and New Year's Eve (if these fall outside of Friday or Saturday), and Sundays of Bank Holiday weekends.
• Late Night Refreshment: 23:00 to 03:30, Monday to Sunday, with extended hours as above for certain holidays.
• Opening Hours: 11:00 to 04:00, Monday to Sunday, with extended hours as above for certain holidays.

According to the officer's report, the applicant, Shukriyah and Co Ltd, has stated that the outdoor smoking area will not be used for licensable activities or consumption of alcohol/food after 23:00 (except for smoking). They also propose that a personal licence holder be on site from 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays until alcohol sales end, and that a minimum of two door supervisors¹ be on duty from 21:00 until closing on nights when the premises is open after midnight. All existing conditions on the current licence are proposed to be carried over if the variation is granted.

Representations from Responsible Authorities

The report pack indicates that formal representations were submitted by both the Licensing Authority and Thames Valley Police during the public consultation period, and that these representations remain unresolved.

The Licensing Authority's representation, detailed in Annex B of the report pack, raises concerns across all four licensing objectives². The Licensing Authority believes that extending the opening hours could transform the restaurant into a late-night venue, potentially attracting a more challenging clientele and leading to increased alcohol consumption. A compliance inspection revealed several issues, including the apparent absence of a noise limiter, insufficient CCTV coverage, and the lack of formal security and vulnerable persons policies.

According to the report pack, some of these concerns have been addressed since the initial submission. The Licensing Authority may reconsider its position once outstanding issues are resolved, specifically:

• Confirmation of CCTV recording capacity.
• Final confirmation of the security policy.
• Submission of a minor variation to amend conditions and update the premises plan.

Thames Valley Police has objected to the application based on the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety. Their representation, found in Annex C, expresses concern that extending operating hours to 04:00 could significantly increase the risk of crime and disorder, especially given that most other venues in the area close earlier. The police note that the applicant has not engaged with them prior to submitting the application, despite being the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) for two other late-night venues. They have requested the inclusion of several conditions to mitigate risk, including a final entry time, a written security policy, a vulnerable person's policy, and a risk-assessed approach to door supervision.

The police also highlight that James Sloan, Principal Licensing Officer at Milton Keynes City Council, found several breaches of existing licence conditions during an inspection, including the lack of a formal age verification policy, a missing risk assessment for door supervisors, and non-compliance with noise limiter and CCTV requirements.

Officer Observations

The report pack includes observations from officers, noting that the Theatre District is a key cultural and entertainment hub with a vibrant nightlife. The presence of residential flats alongside entertainment venues means that noise and public safety are important considerations in licensing discussions.

Sub-Committee's Options

The sub-committee is required to determine the application in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003³ and must consider the representations made. The steps they can take include:

• Modifying the terms of the application in granting a licence.
• Rejecting the application or part of the application.
• Granting the application as applied for.

The report pack includes extracts from the Section 182 Guidance and the council's Statement of Licensing Policy, which are relevant to the application.

Licensing Sub-Committee Procedure

Councillor Akash Nayee is scheduled to outline the procedure to be followed by the sub-committee in determining the application for a variation to the premises licence.