Agenda and minutes

The Licensing Enforcement Officer (LEO) presented to the Sub-Committee.

An application for a new premises licence was made by LDN Riverside Ltd for an event space/nightclub at Unit J Abbey Industrial Estate, Kingsbridge Road, Barking, IG11 0BP.

The application sought the following licensable activities and timings: Plays, Films, Live Music, Recorded Music, Performances of Dance, anything Similar to Live Music, Recorded Music and Performances of Dance, Supply of Alcohol (On the Premises) & Opening Hours:

Friday: 18:00 – 23:59 hours

Saturday: 00:00 – 23:59 hours

Sunday: 00:00 – 23:59 hours

Extension to trade on any Bank Holidays and on New Year’s Eve

Late Night Refreshment:

Friday: 23:00 – 23:59 hours

Saturday: 00:00 – 05:00 hours

Sunday: 23:00 – 23:59 hours

Extension to trade on any Bank Holidays and on New Year’s Eve

Representations were received from four Responsible Authorities:

Ø  Metropolitan Police Licensing Officer

Ø  Barking and Dagenham Council Licensing Officer

Ø  Barking and Dagenham Council Health and Safety Officer

Ø  Barking and Dagenham Council Environmental Protection Officer

Representations were also received from three businesses which were based in the vicinity of the premises which was subject to the licensing application.

The Chair invited the Metropolitan Police Licensing Officer (MPLO) to address the Sub-Committee.

The MPLO outlined their concerns, stating that the Police was of the conclusion that the application did not conform to the Council’s licensing objectives. The MPLO said that it was a predominantly late-night venue selling alcohol and, notwithstanding the application, it would operate as a nightclub.

The Police said that the area was an inappropriate choice for such a venue as it was a working industrial site with forklift trucks, vans and heavy goods vehicles frequently using it. The site also contained shipping containers, scrapped vehicles and loud machinery. The MPLO cautioned that they would be a hazard to patrons especially if they were intoxicated. The MPLO added that the site contained ditches, which endangered public safety, shrubbery and bushes as well as wasteland which could facilitate criminal activity such as drug taking or sexual offences. Female patrons were likely to be at particular risk. The MPLO also highlighted the proximity of the premises to the river.

The MPLO said that patrons to the LDN Riverside would come from other parts of London, and possibly the UK, noting that the premises was situated in an area with poor public transport links. The site contained materials such as wires and pieces of wood and metal that posed a hazard, especially where a person was intoxicated, and could also be used as weapons.

The MPLO emphasised that the licensing application requested that the premise operate from 6pm on Fridays to 12am on Sundays; thus, the venue could operate continuously for 54 hours. The MPLO warned that this posed potential problems with patrons drinking for long periods, especially during bank holidays. Businesses based in the industrial trade operated until the late hours and the MPLO noted that the Applicant’s representatives were under the incorrect impression that the businesses operated Monday-Friday  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.