Agenda and minutes

Councillor McPherson was appointed as Chair for the meeting. 

No declarations of interest were made.

All parties noted the procedure.

The Licensing Enforcement Officer presented their report and outlined the application, advising that the date of 6 May 2024 referenced in the report as the last day of submission for representation was incorrect and should have been 4 June 2024.

A registered public speaker stated that there was in fact twenty-one representations, not twenty as outlined in the Officer’s report, with three in support.

The applicant expressed surprise at the number of representations opposed to the application and had they been aware would have launched a campaign (as had done at their previous licensed venue) encouraging people supporting the application to write in. 

Applicant’s Presentation

      i.         Had been involved in running businesses in Cambridge for the past ten years.

    ii.         Also had run a charity in Cambridge. Worked at Winter Comfort which was near the location of the application so knew the area well and the clients that Winter Comfort took care of.

   iii.         The objective of the venue was to create a community-based hub, which offered tours of Cambridge based on well known individuals, starting, and ending at the venue.

  iv.         This application was not to create a Wetherspoons type public house, i.e. selling of cheap alcohol in large quantities.

    v.         Although had requested a licence for music and performance, did not expect to use the licence for all the hours available, but this would allow for flexibility;  stated the venue did not yet have a music licence.

  vi.         A professional acoustic engineer had visited the site to take sound measurements emanating from the venue. The premises was a two-storey venue (with basement) which  had previously been a bank so was well secured, the basement well sealed with a large thick ceiling, already naturally sound proofed, where a variety of functions would be run with a continental café/ bar on the ground floor.

 vii.         Readings taken by the acoustic engineer from the flat above, which would be used by the landlord, (before additional soundproofing been installed), no sound could be heard from the music from the basement played at the decibel level permitted at ground floor level. 

viii.         If music was being played in the basement (the maximum number of people in the basement would be approximately sixty people), music would not be heard emanating from the basement on the street level, the flats above or the flats  behind.

  ix.         When an application would be made for a music licence, this would be supported by the acoustic sound engineer’s recommendations.

    x.         No live music would be run from the ground floor, the only music played from this level would be background music; all licenced venues had the option to play background music if required.

  xi.         Sound may be heard from the venue if the doors were opened but this would be minimal.  Therefore, believed the objections relating to sound were unreasonable.

 xii.         Would be applying for a table licence to have tables and chairs outside in keeping with other venues on Chesterton Road, not the parklet (sidewalk extension  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24/21/Lic