(a)

considered the report from the Director for Place outlining the application for an entertainment venue with licensed bars, dance floors and a café bistro facility;

(b)

responded to concerns raised by the applicant’s legal representative in respect of information which had been published in error on the Council’s website;

(c)

heard from the applicant’s legal representative that -

• the premise comprised a massive building on three floors purpose built as a cinema;
• the premise had been boarded up since 2003;
• the applicant wanted to bring the building back to life, create jobs and revenue from the operation of a properly run and managed entertainment centre with an adjoining café bistro facility;
• the applicant had a full feasibility and business plan;
• an in-house taxi service was to be implemented;
• a scan net system was to be in operation (the benefits of which were demonstrated to the Committee);
• there were no adjoining residential properties;
• the number of licensed premises in the area has fallen over the last few years, two had had their licences revoked and two were no longer operating;
• during a meeting with the Police on February 2012 they had indicated that when the Millennium was in operation it appeared to have a positive effect on crime and disorder because of the staffing levels, CCTV facilities and security levels;
• a specific smoking area was to be provided within the parameters of the premise which would be covered by CCTV and monitored by security staff, so smokers would not be on the street and could only exit the premise via the main door;
• the applicant had provided sixty-two initiatives and practices designed to address the licensing objective and cumulative impact policy;
• there was considerable support for the building to be brought back from the dead;

(d)

considered verbal and written representations under the licensing objectives from interested parties, including Environmental Health, Devon and Cornwall Police and Ward Councillors, as follows -

i)

Prevention of Public Nuisance –

Environmental Health believed that, due to the proximity of nearby local residential properties, there was the potential for use of the premises to cause a public nuisance from noise from the proposed smoking area, from people noise and noise from taxi vehicles;

Councillors Sue McDonald and Tuffin were not convinced there were sufficient vehicles to take people out of Union Street quickly during the night hours given the volume of clubgoers and there may be ‘spillover’ of clubgoers out in the street waiting for taxis and at food outlets.  They said there was already litter in the streets nearby which residents attribute to the night time economy.

ii)

Prevention of Crime and Disorder –

A local resident had concerns that the premise backs on to the Flora Court Estate and had in the past had to call the Police in the early hours due to fighting breaking out between drunken clubbers in their car park when the clubs and pubs kick out.  Drunken youths had been seen shouting,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4