I was called up at the last minute to join a panel to hear three license applications/variations today.  It was rather annoying as I’d just got home but I cycled back to the Town Hall in about 8 minutes! The applications were:

1.  Kebab Kid on St. Clement’s

This application was for a licence to service takeaway food well into the small hours (5am at the weekends) and act as a takeaway.  There were objections from residents and Police concerned with noise in a very residential area and about the tendency for food outlets to be flashpoints for late night gathering of people and disturbance.  Eventually the panel granted reduced hours and imposed a condition requiring door supervisors to aid with dispersal on some evenings of the week.

2.  The Six Bells in Headington Quarry

The was a short extension to hours as part of a revamp of the premises by the brewery.  The panel granted the application as requested and I made sure that none of the extensions came into force until Januray 2012  (thus removing the possibility of using the extra hours in the busy December period, prior to renovation) and also that although the venue could open until 1am on some evenings, it would not be possible to admit new customers after midnight – this is to avoid people leaving other local pubs at their closing time and making a noise walking along to the Six Bells.

3.  The Viking Sports and Social Club in Old Headington

This was really just a regularisation of of existing practice due to technicalities in licensing law and the 2003 Act.  There was some confusion among local residents and indeed the applicant about what their existing club licence covered and about the ability of the licensing panel to change the number of Temporary Event Notices (TENs) that can be used.  TENs are entirely outside the remit of the Council so discussing them was actually a red-herring that caused considerable confusion.  Eventually agreement was reached and I was pleased that we had asked that the club notify neighbours of their yearly plan for events and also notify if any events were added to the calendar later in the year, after it was published.

I left the Town Hall around 8.15pm.  There was one more hearing to do but I couldn’t do that as it was for an application in Carfax Ward, the one I represent.

Please note this post does not form an official record of proceedings and should not be treated as such.  The decision notices from the City Council are the definitive documents.