The Chairman will advise the meeting of the evacuation procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. This is particularly important for visitors and members of the public who will be unfamiliar with the building and procedures.

The Chairman will inform the meeting whether there is a planned evacuation drill due to take place, what the alarm sounds like (i.e. ringing bells), where the closest emergency exit route is, and where the second closest emergency exit route is, in the event that the closest exit or route is blocked.

The Chairman will inform the meeting that:

(a) in the event of the alarm sounding, everybody must leave the building via the nearest safe available exit and gather at the Assembly points at the far side of the Car Park. Nobody must leave the assembly point until everybody can be accounted for and nobody must return to the building until the Chairman has informed them that it is safe to do so; and

(b) the lifts must not be used in the event of an evacuation.

Any officers present at the meeting will aid with the evacuation.

It is important that the Chairman is informed of any person attending who is disabled or unable to use the stairs, so that suitable arrangements may be made in the event of an emergency.

The Chairman made sure that those present were aware of the Fire Evacuation Procedure.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and outlined the procedure that would be followed.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for  themselves or their spouse, civil partner or person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner.  They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

The Chairman will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items on this agenda, under the following headings:

(a)          Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and not take part in the discussion or vote.  This applies even if there is provision for public speaking.

(b)          Disclosable Non Pecuniary (DNPI) under the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DNPI interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

(c)          Where it is possible that a fair-minded and informed observer, having considered the facts would conclude that there was a real possibility that the Member might be predetermined or biased the Member should declare their predetermination or bias and then leave the room while that item is considered.

Advice to Members:  If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Director of Corporate Services as Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

No interests were declared.

To consider an application for a new premises licence at Shisha Bar, 2 Minster Road, Halfway, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 3JD

Mrs Angela Seaward, Senior Licensing Officer, introduced the report which was for an application for a new Premises Licence in respect of Shisha Bar, 2 Minster Road, Halfway.  The proposed hours for the sale of alcohol was Monday to Sunday, 18:00 – 23:00.  She advised that two representations had been received, as well as representations from the Environmental Protection Team.  These were outlined in Appendices C and D in the report.

Mr Musha, the Applicant, considered the proposals presented a good opportunity, and would benefit the area socially.  Mr Zaman, the Manager, explained that the Shisha Bar was not a nightclub, but was there for relaxation.  He considered it would add value to the current business, the Mr India restaurant.

The following responses to questions were given to the Sub-Committee:  the age limit for shisha smoking was 18 years; shisha would be purchased from the bar; the new business would be amalgamated with the current restaurant business;  54 people could be seated in the garden, however the preferred figure was 40, the projected safe number;  the shisha was not tobacco based, it was herbal; the smoke from the pipes was similar to that from ‘vaping’; shisha involved manual ‘puffing’, not like vaping which was battery-operated; customers from the restaurant could go to the garden and vice-versa; and the shisha could not be taken away, as the pipes were hired from the premises.

The Sub-Committee were advised that the Applicant had tried unsuccessfully to meet with Mr Cashman (objector) to discuss any potential problems.  Further responses to questions included: drinking issues were not expected at the premises, as the focus was on relaxation and detoxing; any overflow would be seated on un-reserved seating or advised to come back later; 40 customers were likely on Friday and Saturday evenings; 20 – 30 customers between Sunday and Thursday; and measures to address colder weather were being looked into, such as the use of canopies/marquees.

The Environmental Health Officer reported that there had been sufficient concern for potential nuisance to local residents from noise, the gathering of people, fumes and odours.  He explained that the premises had been visited on three occasions by his department and it was considered that any noise in the area came from a variety of other businesses/traffic at junction; noise levels at the application premises were considered to be low, insignificant and incidental.  The Environmental Health Officer reported that to-date he had not received any noise-related complaints from the premises.

The Environmental Health Officer further explained that a portaloo had been installed because he had been told by the applicant that there were insufficient toilets within the premises for the use of customers in the garden.  There was a concern with queuing using the restaurant toilets and also odours from the external toilet, and he suggested it be rotated by 90 degrees to help address this.  He explained the music was within a contained area, and that it was background music.  The lighting was orientated downwards to address  ...  view the full minutes text for item 828.