Agenda item

Decision:-

That the application for conversion and variation to a licence in respect of Model Fish Bar & Restaurant, 52 Broad Street, Stamford be agreed as submitted for the following operating hours for late night refreshment:-

23.00hrs to 00.30hrs – Sunday to Tuesday

23.00hrs to 02.30hrs – Wednesday to Saturday

subject to the following conditions:-

1. That the premises shall provide at or near the exits sufficient waste bins to enable the disposal of waste food, food containers, wrappings etc. and these containers shall be emptied regularly and the contents stored securely.

2. That the public area immediately surrounding the premises shall be cleared of waste food, food containers, wrapping etc. at the end of trading on each day. Such refuse shall be placed in a container designed for the storage and disposal of refuse and waste foods which shall be constructed, maintained and located so that access to it by vermin and unauthorised persons is prevented and arrangements shall be made for the regular lawful disposal of their contents.

3. That the existing CCTV installation shall be maintained and all resulting tapes shall be kept for a period of no less than 28 days and made available to the police if required.

The committee had before them the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing’s report ENV269 in relation to an application for conversion and variation to a licence for Model Fish Bar & Restaurant, 52 Broad Street, Stamford. A full copy of the application was attached at appendix 1, including a map showing the premises. Objections from thirty-eight interested parties were attached at appendix 2.

The Committee Support Officer introduced the application and clarified who would be speaking for the applicants. Three local residents attended the meeting to speak and it was noted that there was no police representative present. The applicant, premises manager and representatives were present at the meeting and the Chairman sought and received confirmation that they had received and understood the procedure to be followed.

The Head of Environmental Health and Licensing introduced the report and drew attention to the representations which concerned mainly issues of noise, crime and disorder and public nuisance. In response to a question from the applicant’s representative, the officer confirmed that no representations had been received from the statutory consultees.

The applicant’s representative stated that for off sales of hot food and drink, the applicant would modify the application to 23.00hrs to 00.30hrs – Sunday to Tuesday and 23.00hrs to 02.30hrs – Wednesday to Saturday, because they were aware that another similar outlet in Stamford had been granted such a licence. He informed the committee that the fish bar had been operating at the premises since the 1930s and that the present owner had been there over twenty years. There had seldom been public disorder at the premises hence no representations from the statutory bodies. The owner and manager were local residents and therefore sensitive to the impact of the fish bar on the community.  It was suggested that people waiting for taxis at the nearby rank would use the fish bar therefore reducing public nuisance. Upon questioning, the manager explained what staff did to help with litter and how they dealt with persons under the influence of alcohol. The local residents confirmed their concerns regarding litter from the fish bar and discussed this with the applicant. The applicant was also asked about CCTV, to which he stated that CCTV was installed and he would be prepare to record tapes.

The local residents spoke to the committee. The modification to the application concerning off sales hours was appreciated but concerns prevailed regarding public nuisance late at night. Staggering of closing hours merely prolonged the nuisance.

In summing up his report, the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing confirmed that the application made no variation to the upstairs restaurant at the premises. The applicant’s representative in summing up stated that the objections received seemed to be a general opposition to the statute, not this application.

The officers, applicant, representatives and members of the public then left the room. The committee considered the application and it was proposed and seconded that the application, as modified, be agreed subject to conditions concerning CCTV and litter.

The officers, applicant, representatives and members of the public then returned to the meeting and were advised of the decision, as noted above. The Committee Support Officer also advised the applicant that the decision could be reviewed at any time by any interested party.